The Direct Perception of God through the Sacraments in Christian Education
Journal of Childhood and Religion May 1, 2026 Jerome W. Berryman, Cheryl V. Minor
Direct perception of the Divine through Protestant sacraments—bread, wine, and water—is possible and has implications for Christian education. The paper integrates theological, philosophical, psychological, and mystical perspectives to argue that sacraments function beyond rational comprehension as symbolic and transformative vehicles. Theologians debate their role in mediating divine reality, while philosophers and psychologists highlight pre-rational and unconscious dimensions of symbolic meaning, and mystics affirm sacraments as pathways to ultimate reality. The conclusion is that sacraments convey profound, experiential knowledge of God, complementing verbal instruction and nurturing spiritual formation. In a time of symbolic impoverishment, renewed sacramental engagement restores access to deeper, creative, and transformative dimensions of faith.