In the Communications classes that I teach, we talk about judgment. We learn that there are two types of judgment: moralistic and value.
Moralistic judgment says:
“She is stupid.”
“He’s lazy.”
We are assigning value to the person, as a PERSON, and saying who they are -- not talking about what they are doing that is creating the problem. We are also moralistically saying that we know what is right, and what is wrong -- and we are the judge of that scale.
Value judgment, however, says this:
“Because I value honesty, I am going to vote for Bob. I have had experiences with him in the past where he has been very honest with me.”
“I’m going to choose to work with Sam, because I value his experience and wisdom.”
Value judgments honor our ability to make our own choices, and identify our responsibility to make those choices based on what we think is important. We acknowledge that others may make different choices based on what they value.
This morning, I was reading in the Book of Mormon. Here’s 2 Nephi, Chapter 9, verse 7
"Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more."
This scripture interested me because the first judgment spoken of is a judgment that remains -- it remains in endless duration.
When we speak moralistically, we speak as if that person will always be that way. “He’s lazy ……………...just …………...forever.” That’s the problem with moralistic judgment. Something happens, and we quickly leap to a moralistic judgment. It’s our first response.
It’s more work to take a moment, think about what we value, and then respond. But when we do respond, we respond with what we value. We take responsibility. We identify what we want, and we explain why we choose that thing.
It’s the only honest way to judge.
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