The Conversion of Ignatius Loyola: a Brief Overview

Discernment in a Media Driven World

Joshua Pearson

Regis University

Abstract

We live in the information age. Everywhere we turn, the media is telling us what to do, who to pay attention to and how we should spend our time. We no longer need to wait for reporters to verify sources and present a well-researched story. Instead anyone can go online and use a variety of social media outlets to state whatever they wish. While in some cases, such as documenting human rights violations in Syria or Iran, the ability of people to post stories online with relative anonymousness is a good thing, it has also given rise to the belief that you can say whatever you want without consequence. So how are we to discover the truth in the age of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? Through spiritual discernment, careful comparison and selective ingestion of media. Just because there are 24 hour news channels does not mean we need to spend 24 hours listening to news. We need to take time to compare what we are listening to with what we know through revelation from God to be true.

Discernment in a Media Driven World

Information is abundant and easily accessible. We live in a world of instant gratification, where companies compete not by delivering quality but quickly. Media outlets strive to be first in reporting events, even if the details are incorrect. Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites have given the mass populace the ability to declare personal messages about anything and everything, from detailing the political oppression and crimes of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, to posting videos of drunk and passed out friends. We live in a world where the ability to create, share and access information moves forward at an uncontrollable rate. Due to this onslaught of information, we need to be careful in what we allow to enter our homes.

Discernment is used by all people, regardless of faith. One does not have to believe in a higher power to realize that allowing children to...