Rash Judgments – What Are They?
Forming rash judgments occur when someone forms an opinion about someone’s actions or character without sufficient evidence or understanding. It is considered a sin against charity and justice because it involves making negative assumptions about others without giving them the benefit of the doubt or seeking to understand their motives or circumstances.
The Baltimore Catechism #3 teaches the following:
- 1310. What is forbidden by the Eighth Commandment? A. The Eighth Commandment forbids all rash judgments, backbiting, slanders, and lies.
- 1311. What are rash judgment, backbiting, slander, and detraction? A. Rash judgment is believing a person guilty of sin without a sufficient cause. Backbiting is saying evil things about another in his absence. Slander is telling lies about another with the intention of injuring him. Detraction is revealing the sins of another without necessity.
Why Do We Make Rash Judgments?
There are several factors that lead people – even those who regularly practice the Catholic Faith – to fall into the sin of making rash judgments against others.
Cognitive Bias: We are prone to cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias (seeking out information that confirms pre-existing beliefs) and availability bias (relying on readily available information rather than seeking out more accurate or comprehensive data). As a result, we might assume someone is guilty of a sin and look out for anything whatsoever that might allegedly confirm this. But this cognitive bias is not based on all evidence, and all too readily assumes evil of our neighbor.
Emotional Influences: Emotions such as fear, anger, or frustration can cloud judgment and lead people to make impulsive or irrational decisions. When we feel threatened or insecure, we are susceptible to judging others harshly or defensively. But if we had acted more logically and rationally, we would not have fallen into false judgments.
Lack of Information: Sometimes people make judgments based on incomplete or inaccurate information simply because they lack access to more reliable data. This can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of others’ intentions or behavior. This again is due to not taking sufficient time to carefully examine the situation. Moreover, we often fail to exercise due patience. Waiting before making judgments can provide the opportunity to gather relevant information.
Attribution Errors: People often attribute others’ behavior to internal characteristics (e.g., personality or intentions) rather than external factors (e.g., situational constraints or environmental influences). This tendency, known as the fundamental attribution error, can result in rash judgments about others. Some acts, for instance, are not sinful in certain situations. Again, we should assume the good of others. (Doing so is actually an obligation imposed by Christian charity.)
Only by growing in virtue and in practices like assuming the good in others, praying before acting, submitting emotions to right reason, and taking sufficient time to reflect can we avoid rushing immediately into rash judgments.
St. Francis de Sales on Avoiding Rash Judgements
St. Francis de Sales wrote often on the importance of not making rash judgments against others and always assuming the good. As disciples of Christ, we must strive to imitate Him. God always loves us and sees the good in us, despite our weaknesses and failings. We should strive to do the same. If one is quick to think evil of his neighbor instead of good, then how can he see Christ in his neighbor or exercise charity towards him?
We should not be naïve, but we do have a moral responsibility to assume the good of others unless experience or circumstances dictate otherwise. Some of St. Francis de Sales’ words of wisdom worth committing to our reflection include the following:
- “Never pass judgment on the actions of your neighbor unless you can first form a reasonable opinion about them; and even then, reserve your verdict. Let charity make you believe as much good as possible about them.”
- “Be extremely careful never to entertain an unfavorable opinion about another person, unless you have solid proof of their guilt. We always readily believe what is worst about others, but our own faults we can hardly bring ourselves to believe, and if anyone touches them, we take it very ill.”
- “The more you show that you do not trust someone, the more you will arouse in them the desire to deceive you. But if you trust them, you will make them become trustworthy. For according to the fashion in which you treat people, they will in the end come to deserve the treatment.”
- “Let us be on our guard against unreasonable judgments; for every good servant of God has always had a share of them. We must be truly charitable toward others, not believing anything to their discredit without good reason, and defending them as much as charity permits.”
For similar reflections on how to grow in sanctity, Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales is without parallel.