Have you ever noticed Calvinists think in black and white? And I’m not just talking about their theology, I mean they think in black and white about everything? And have you noticed that people who obsess about the second coming also like science fiction books? Of course those are general statements, and the most offensive thing you can say to a twenty-something is that people might have common characteristics (they hear “nobody is original”) but, honestly, and I mean really, really, honestly, is this something you’ve noticed?
So I’ve been wondering how much our personality goes into our understanding of God? And I’ve been concluding that, well, it goes into our view of God quite a bit.
For the past several years, I’ve studied the Enneagram, a personality assessment not unlike Myers-Briggs. The theory divides people into nine personalities, each with a wing, so with nine subtypes. And I’ve noticed some of the personalities are predisposed to certain theologies. Personality eight, which struggles with controlling people, leans toward a rules based, black and white theology that allows them to easily decide who is right and wrong, and who to fight, who is with them or against them. If you disagree with them, you are their enemy. But are you their enemy because you are wrong about theology, or because they have subscribed to a theology that helps them feel comfortable within the way they view the world? In other words, is this God’s fight, or their own? If they weren’t Christians, wouldn’t they just manifest their personalities in some other fight, some other black-and-white way of viewing the world?
Then there is the scholarly type, who tends to understand everything from different angles, but has trouble landing or stating they believe in much of anything. They are on a search, looking for truth, and don’t like the idea of having arrived. These people make great Bible Scholars because they try to understand an idea from various angles, and yet they have a very hard time landing, mainly because they feel like when they land, they stop learning.
I’ve noticed those who are perfectionists are drawn to rules oriented faith structures, where they can check religous actions off of to-do lists.
So I’m wondering a couple of things, and I know this may border on controversial…But I am wondering what kinds of personalities are, in general, drawn toward what kinds of theologies. Has anybody ever thought about this?
The temptation will be to “act” like we’ve never thought such things, but haven’t we. I have. I’ve wondered about this quite a bit, actually. Right or wrong, I have.
I love this. I think about it all the time.
Great post! I don’t think that too many people are aware of this as a legitimate issue.
While I previously understood that this was an issue and area for consideration when examining the doctrinal and practical commitments of one’s theological beliefs, I came to the realization of this issue being as fundamental as it is several years ago through my relationship with a friend of a differing theological perspective within our shared Christian faith (we can be considered to be on the opposite-handed side of various historically contested theological issues within the larger Christian discussion). This said, we both are very similar in our core personality types when considering the major typing tests that are currently in vogue. For this reason, I have to ask how much of our personality is also affected by our social environment in general and our religious upbringing in particular.
I don’t think that this is as one-way a street as your post may imply (not that you necessarily mean to imply such). I note that these are interrelated dynamics that play into each other. In addition to these variables, you may wish to include such factors as genetics and early childhood influences in your consideration. All of these factors influence each other. This topic has been touched upon in the “nature vs. nurture” debate. I have put the question like this: “How much of our nature is intrinsic (genetic) vs. extrinsic (environmental)?” That question alone has provided us with an unending source of hypotheses, theories and doctoral-level theses. I think that the maxim “Give me a child until seven and I’ll show you the man” puts it best.
While this multi-variable equation is far more complex, I think that you may find it to be a more adequate model in your long term research into this matter.
I hope to read more from you on this matter as time progresses!
I’m a little late on the uptake here, but I couldn’t agree more that there is distinct correlation. I’ve mainly been thinking in terms of ecumenical vs. sect-oriented types. I’ve awakened as though from a dream to find myself in the midst of sect types.
In any event, this is a very worthwhile topic insofar as it can be helpful for faith. The danger is boxing people in (OBVIOUSLY). I can see a pastoral reason for this kind of thing: if you’re a guilty conscience NF, for example, you may want to steer clear of the rule oriented ST folks to avoid the headache.
It also strikes me that some people speak to my soul more deeply b/c of their personality, more so than their theological bent.
I posed this same question to my theology teacher last year. We were discussing/arguing about free will vs. predestination when it occurred to me that his personality demands more logically answers while mine demands that my intuition have the final say. We each use both at some point, just to differing degrees. I posed the question of whether our personality type is actually the greatest factor in our theological leanings. He said it was a very interesting idea and he would love to see someone do a proper study on it. I laughed and said that sounded about right coming from him and then added that I didn’t need a study as my gut said it was probably true. Much laughter followed.