Peter Richardson uses the Jungian personality typology of the Myers-Briggs type indicator as a guide to understanding religious preference. The insight that he offers is not just simply on which church to join, but an indication of the type of spiritual journey of quest we will seek. Richardson’s intent is to helps the reader understand each other and our differences. "Honor the importance of each and reflect on your home-base spirituality until you become comfortable with your version of it." (p. 39). Richardson suggest four different spiritual journeys we follow, depending on two dimensions of our MBTI personality type. Intuitive Thinkers (NT) seek the path of Unity, hoping to identify the small set of unifying principles which explain and bind human experience together into a unified whole. Sensing …show more content…
The four journeys that are described are: journey of unity, journey of devotion, journey of works, and journey of harmony. The Journey of the unity describes personality types that are considered intuitive thinkers who are known for being able to see the bigger picture as well as the underlying principles. This journey or spiritual pathway prefer intellectual lucidity. They are associated with four general characteristics. The first being a “reverence for life” or the “doctrine of love” which is why this spiritualities I see as being associated with Jesus. Second is they like to not only find truths but ones that are considered globally true. Thirdly this personality type is passionate for social justice, not through activism, but more through education. And lastly, they are characterizes in seeking spiritual enlightenment as well clarity of mind, which I believe parallels with the idea of Buddha as an engaging
Although not the first scholar to examine the idea of religion, Jones utilizes the concept from the study of Self Psychology in order to determine if “transformative religious experience is mature or unhealthy” (Jones 2002). In chapter 5 of his text, Jones
4. Describe the eight preferences of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. How does this instrument measure Carl Jung‘s ideas?
“While God’s understanding of human nature is the goal of a Christian psychology, given human finitude and the existence of distinct Christian traditions, Christian psychology will actually consist of many different perspectives found within the historic Christian Church” (Johnson, n.d., slide 26). The five views are represented as models, of these five model’s, the Christian Psychology Model is the best one to describe Hawkins and Clintons integration approach. This model provides a great understanding of how psychology and Christianity integrate and synergize in helping clients heal. This helps us to define and shape the soul “to understand human nature, we must carefully explore the components of the soul” (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, “Defining and Shaping the Soul, para. 1). This model purpose is to show and focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. It’s a middle passage for integration and Biblical
What does psychology have to do with the Christian faith? In Psychology and Christianity: Five Views, by Myers, Jones, Roberts, Watson, Coe, Hall, and Powlison (2010) is an introductory textbook for Christian psychology that provides sound arguments for an array of positions on psychology and faith. Each author contributed an essay and in return the other essayist respond by either agreeing or disagreeing by pointing out faults and explaining why.
Overall, Entwistle (2010) demonstrated intelligibly his knowledge on how worldviews impact the way we undertake integration. Although the book is scholastically laden, it is still a creative tool that provides comprehension pertaining to how Christianity and psychology are viewed. This book is highly recommended for those that are studying in the field of psychology, theology, or those who simply want insight on how the principles can and should be intertwined.
Journeys can include those that are physical, mental or inner and are often accompanied by challenges that can change the individual mostly for the better. Journeys are taken for many reasons, some are taken from choice and others are compulsory. A journey can be lone or be accompanied. The outcomes of journeys may shape the individual as a person.
The archetype of the journey is seen in Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain, most clearly through experience Inman has wandering back to Cold Mountain. The journey archetype sends the hero in search of some truth to restore order and harmony to the land. The journey often includes the series of trials and tribulations the hero faces along the way. Usually the hero descends into a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the blackest truths. Once the hero is at his lowest level, he must accept personal responsibility to return to the world of the living. Inman’s trip fits this description very well in some ways and not in others. It could be said that Inman’s search for truth is his desire to be back home. He has been
The ‘quest’ continuum measures the degree of importance the individual places on existential questions, but does not necessarily feel an urgency to have answered. An example of this would be an agnostic, or a philosopher who enjoys the process of examining these kinds of questions. A person on the high end of this continuum would tend to have doubts about religion, and be tentative about religious viewpoints.
When speaking of the journey one is speaking of an act in which the mind or the body are going through a vigor of change and an instance of importance. The journey, whether literal or figurative, is a thing that could impact life, reason, and even passion for what one holds dear. Such as a woman realizing that medicine is their calling or a man having a roller coaster of emotions during their daily viewing of their favorite television show, a journey can be anything and at any level of life, but always an instance of importance.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) “is an introspective self-report questionnaire designed to indicate psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions” (13). It is one of several personality assessments that is popular among modern mental health experts throughout the world. Currently, it is estimated that the MBTI is “taken by more than two million people per year and is translated into 16 languages (10). “The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people 's lives” (4).
The Myers Biggs test gave an accurate description of my personality. The philosopher's that I was matched up with was Jesus. I felt an immediate connected with jesus because his teachings influence my decisions I make everyday. In my religion, Jesus is the central part of it. Everything evolves around him and without him nothing would of ever existed. My faith influences me every day. Many Religions have particular beliefs they want people to follow. They expect people to follow these guidelines. Having guidelines show their followers, their basic principles that they expect them to follow. When guidelines are put in place for me they help me to make the best decision possible in any problem I am presented with. Through the teachings of Jesus,
In “Religious Conversion and Personality Change,” Paloutzian, Richardson, and Rambo discuss the Religious Conversion and Personality Change one may face. Psychology, sociology, and anthropology have dealt with the obstacle of how to illustrate the term conversion leading to mean, to convert, “to return.” (1014) Adjustment in ones’ demeanor is usually correlated with the recognition of an advanced strucure that serves to rationalize and clarify the new integrity the person is growing. In religious conversion, the primary motive was to change their attitude, not in what they believed in. Religious conversion can be known to be an immediate, progressive, effective or an apathetic process. People long for a purpose, to belong and have their identity
Throughout the book, the author carefully details the need for balance between theology and spirituality, and psychology and Christianity. Though the author discusses methods and approaches that are spiritual but based on a strong theological foundation. “Nothing is more crucial to an effective Christian life that a clear awareness of its foundation” (p. 25). Essentially Crabb (1977) maintains that spirituality is a product of the correct thinking associated with strong theological foundation.
What is spirituality? Everyone has it however not all understand what it is exactly. Individuals can experience and express spiritually differently. It can be confused with religion or ghosts (Lepherd, 2015). For many years, there have been many definitions and descriptions of spirituality; it is described as the search of the meaning of life, alleviation of suffering, or creating inner peace in an individual. Which explains how spirituality is made useful for meditation and practicing yoga. Each person’s spirituality is different from others because according to his article, ‘Spirituality: Everyone has it, but what is it,’ Laurence Lepherd (2015) explains, “People have [different levels] of depth or intensity of spirituality, from [person to person].”
Within each church, spirituality is expressed in different traditions and is practiced in various ways. In identifying these traditions Richard Foster placed in six categories namely, contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical and incarnation. Although these traditions are found to be central to our Christian faith each church has demonstrated a tendency to prefer the practice of one over another.