For years now I’ve studied the Enneagram and I’ve found it enlightening. The Enneagram is a personality assessment tool, but it differs from others assessments because it doesn’t seek to tell who a person is, but rather, how a person hides who they are. There are nine personalities on the enneagram.
I’m in a unique position to have both theologically conservative and theologically liberal friends and I notice that some personalities lean toward conservatism and others toward liberalism. Personalities that need high levels of control tend to be conservative, and personalities seeking higher levels of understanding but less control over others tend to be liberal. Therefore, each personality is developing their theology based on the filter through which they see the world.
Conservatives are dutiful followers of God, while Liberals are affectionate followers of God. Conservatives tend to have a fists-up attitude toward the world, while liberals tend to have an arms out attitude toward the world. And what’s more is that liberals tend to have a more free, exploratory relationship with God and with others. One of the things that is comforting about being around a more liberal theologian is they don’t try to control you. You don’t feel shame or guilt when you talk to them.
Conservatives can be comforting too in the sense they have solid, black and white definitions for any number of categories about God, and for that matter, they have categories. They are also willing to take stands. People are divided up into categories, too, usually for or against any number of theological positions.
Honestly, I find myself drawn more to a conservative theology but a liberal personality. It’s sometimes torture for me to hang out with my conservative friends because they are often trying to figure out who is on their side in some kind of war. My liberal friends can be frustrating because they don’t feel a sense of urgency about anything save justice issues. And of course these are grand generalizations, but they’re based in what I believe to be objective observations of friends.
I’ve found myself wondering over the years, though, if my conservative friends and liberal friends haven’t come to their conclusions by reading the Bible, but by how they were raised and the disposition they developed towards the world. If you study the enneagram at all, you’ll notice many conservative leaders are Enneagram 8′s, that is they are convinced others are out to get them so they go at the world trying to kill their enemies before their enemies kill them. They trust very few people unless those people prove they are submissive, at which time they will fight and even die for their servants. In that way, they are honorable. And yet their relationships are all conditional. They feel so intensely threatened by the world they must prove themselves tough as to intimidate people away who might attack them. For this reasons, 8′s make shocking statements and speak often of how tough they are. More liberal, academic leaders might be a 5 on the enneagram so they seek security by understanding an issue as it really is, by studying it from every angle and knowing any number of positions intimately. Like Jimmy Carter, though, a 5 can have trouble landing and developing a plan of action. I was encouraged by McLaren’s book A New Kind of Christianity in which he painted a very clear way of viewing the world. That said, a five will never seek to control you where an 8 will not interact with you unless they are in control. If you want a conversation, choose a 5, if you want somebody to lead you, choose an 8.
I typically end up with INFP/INFJ so I am terribly conflicted normally, and now this…which explains why I am very committed to my faith but love to seek understanding, why my friends are all over the political and belief spectrums, why I am often put into leadership and then encourage others to lead different areas. So, I get where you are coming from.
I hear you, Sherri! I am an INFJ too and spend 95% of my time feel like I don’t fit in – whether in politics or in theology – with the people I’m hanging out with. I have gone from being somewhat liberal and slightly religious but without theology, to very conservative and overreligious, to a place in between now, but in the ”in between”, I am an oddity. I feel like I have a responsibility to challenge people’s theology and ideas when they haven’t been thought through, but am also tired of doing this.
Don:
Interestingly enough, in my experience some of the most closed-minded, judgmental,exclusionary Christians have not been conservatives but liberals. They may say, “Well just believe what you want.” But when you don’t agree with their basic premise they can be downright brutal. So in reality they are just as close-minded about their core belief system as some conservatives.
That’s why generalizations are so tricky. They are just that. And for everyone that fits within the label box there is someone who doesn’t.
I’ve met loving conservatives and loving liberals. And I have met plenty from both sides that aren’t. It’s not about the label but about the person.
It was interesting that most people commenting view themselves as moderate and “people they know” as one extreme or the other. Suggests to me that this whole thing is pretty meaningless. Plus, the terms “liberal” and “conservative” have a wide range of meanings and positive or negative connotations (depending on your political leanings). I’ve found Myers-Briggs to have limited value; it tends to force people into a box that doesn’t really fit them.
Obviously, everyone’s on a spectrum in their beliefs, but I think people who call themselves moderate generally don’t want to associate themselves with the left or right (theologically or politically), and might actually be a mix of those two stances, so I’m not sure I’d regard it as “meaningless”. Even if your experience with the Myers-Briggs was lacking, I’d check out the Enneagram. It’s far more insightful, in my opinion. As for boxes, everyone is unique, but I think also think certain motivations/fears/perspectives tend to go together, and to believe we’re all entirely unique in these things misses the point…we are, but there are also overarching themes (call them spiritual gifts or whatever).
Very wise response, Jordan.
And Donald’s comparison between conservative & liberal theologians made me think of republicans & democrats today. I see far more vitriol coming from the republican side than the democrat side.
And I see just the opposite. But they both do it a lot.
Interesting. I listen to NPR and hear balance and reason. My brother watches FoxNews and sees the same thing. Maybe we just have to stop trying to figure each other out. Could it be this is all God’s design after all, to keep us foriving and working with each other?
Linking personality types with the Enneagram really clarified thing for me. I am definitely a 4! I recommend Richard Rohr’s book on the subject.
When I discovered the link between the two personality inventories, it really helped. I’m an INFP. Bring on the 4!
Have you read any Ignatian writings on the subject. Rohr is pretty famous, but I’ve heard that there are others as well who find fun ways of exploring the tool. Good stuff abounds.
Interesting. Wondering if you know many charismatic (or vineyard-like) christians. The ones I know are a mix of what you described – conservative perhaps in political views, but affectionate, open-minded, free and exploratory in their worship. So sorta a mix between the two.
But then what do I know – never met you or your friends!
I agree, at the risk of oversimplification – conservative people tend to play it safe (example their interpretations of Scripture – turn it into law), and liberals take risks (live by the spirit of the law, not the letter, which also risks being wrong).
That was a very risky comment, Charlie.
Agree… very risky
I like it. Neither is inherently better than the other. We need each other to keep from stagnating or spinning out of control. If only we *knew* we need each other…
Don, you ask “Do liberal theologians feel more at home with God?” I doubt it. I suspect both liberals and conservatives feel equally at home with God but perhaps to feel at home they focus on the attributes of God that most resonate with them.
Maybe it’s all by design too, which is why the Enneagram makes sense. We all have a God-given imprinting. Maybe we bump up against other “types” so that we are forced to seek out and understand aspects of God’s creation and how, when we are healthy, collectively as His individual image bearers, we reflect His various attributes.
…I wonder what God thinks about all this. He wired us!
I had to laugh at this post, Don. I hated it. I hate anything that takes me down a polarizing path, which a good liberal/conservative debate does. Then I chuckled, realizing my 9 was showing. I re-read your post and enjoyed it.
– looking forward to hearing what you have to say at Storyline in a few weeks (and exploring Portland too)!
[...] finally, on a bit lighter side, Donald Miller takes a brief look at the relationship between our personalities and our place on the liberal–conservative [...]
[...] got into the Myers-Briggs early. But later I studied the Enneagram. I just read an essay from Donald Miller where he discusses using the Enneagram to understand his liberal and his conservative Christian [...]
“… based in what I believe to be objective observations of friends.”
lol, clever way of trying to make an observation, that could not be more subjective, sound like it is objective.
Objective factual observation: Conservatives give more to charity – even without the benefit of big, open, liberal arms. I wonder if perhaps Donald hasn’t come to his conclusions by reading objective realities, but by how he was raised and the disposition he’s developed towards the world.
Maybe conservatives give more money because they have more money? Nothing is completely objective, not even bare statistics, once they’re used to make a point.
I’m not sure that conservatives have more money. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are not conservatives. Senate Democrats have almost double the net worth of Senate Republicans. One of my favorite quotes is Aaron Levenstein’s “Statistics are like a bikini. What they present is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.”
A few years ago the book “Who Really Cares” took a look at giving patterns and political conservatives do give more. The book offered the theory that since political liberals have a more favorable attitude toward the government safety net they tend to view paying taxes as a form of charitable giving– thus being less apt to give more independently. It’s worth a look.
That quote of Levenstein is brilliant.
I think feeling at home with God is who you are in Christ, He takes your heart, your experiences and uses them for His glory. I see all people for all poeople and if they choose to disagree with me that is fine as long as I feel right with God. My aim is to please Him not people. He is the only teacher that we need.
Funny, I’m very much a #5, and I’m fairly conservative theologically =)
Don,
I don’t know what to think about the personality classification thing, but I think you’re onto something when you suggest that individual personality and upbringing wield significant influence over a person’s beliefs and how he or she expresses them. And I have to agree with your observations about conservatives being paranoid and defensive. It’s kind of nice to look at this stuff from this perspective.
This chart is absolutely fascinating. I read through some of the personality types, it is very enlightening. Thank you for this. This will give me something to ponder for awhile.
I’ve found that the more liberal (dare I say, emergent) a person’s theology, the more likely to be deceived. Or does that not happen in the emergent conversation? This is the result of a generation of relativists teaching relativism. Those who are still holding on to the obsolete truth thing are labeled conservative.
Yes, I know, spoken like a closed-minded conservative (probably a 9 on the scale).
This was such an interesting post. Our church encourages studying the Enneagram, and a couple of years ago, I was a 5. But I tend to be a narrow-minded and judgmental person, so I’m surprised at your assessment at the end there! Thankfully, my blind spots are being opened and God’s doing some tremendous work in my heart, so maybe it’s time to do another eval.
Cate Songbird,
I was really moved and impressed by your profession that you tend to be a narrow-minded and judgmental person – so many of us struggle with that, but it’s so rare than someone will have the courage to openly admit it in public.
Thank you.
Great thoughts- I have friends in both camps too… I would be considered conservative by my liberal friends and liberal by my conservative friends… makes life fun
.
One of the problems with your over-simplification of the Conservative/Liberal dichotomy is the empirical data that shows conservatives MUCH MORE CHARITABLE than their liberal counterparts generally. Conservatives are NOT cold-hearted when it comes to benevolence and charity — they are MOST warm-hearted vis-a-vis their tolerant-of-every-moral-and-ethical-aberration known to mankind liberal friends but virtually ALWAYS Intolerant of Historical Biblical Orthodoxy. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/conservatives_more_liberal_giv.html
Another problem is the false equivalency of being moral, orthodox, and rightly naming of wrongdoing, and being judgmental and controlling. We are called to name sin, confront it, call the perpetrator of it to repentance, provide church discipline where warranted but NOT to eternally judge and condemn another to Hell – that’s God’s soul [sic] purview.
I’m not sure where Don said conservatives were less charitable, William, so I’d say you generally missed the point of the post.
As for Conservative giving, I would expect charitable giving to be higher for a political stance where so many members claim to be rooted in Christianity. Giving is what we are called to do. However, the numbers are far from clear-cut. Part of that higher percentage is due to tithing (let’s assume it’s in the 5-7% range), a large portion of which (depending on the church) goes to maintaining and expanding church buildings and paying church staff. I’m not apologizing for anyone who doesn’t give to charity separate from church, but I don’t really expect if of them the way I would my brothers and sisters in Christ.
George Will (who is conservative and therefore prone to quote stats which support his stance) also disregards international giving. In sheer numbers, the US is by far the most charitable nation in the world. But as a percentage of gross national income, the US ranks a paltry 19th, behind largely liberal nations like Norway, Sweden, Finland and Canada.
This post is very interesting to me and made me think a lot about my own church and the direction of leadership lately. I have been finding myself not wanting to go to church….and this has truly been hurting my heart, yet, the leadership, which at one time had been more liberal, whatever that means…here, I would define it, as being allowed to not have it all figured out, more questioning and more room for doubt, has turned to more black and white, this is what YOU MUST BELIEVE. I hear so much shame and guilt and control tactics used in the teaching, so much pointed shame and guilt, and this post puzzles me. I was so lightened by your words and the differences in personality types, but found myself confused at the end, when you felt that the type 8 would serve better to lead…..this is where I struggle. I find that I can’t be led or taught by someone who is teaching from their own fear, their own desire to impose their will on others, to pound away, and create safe and unsafe people, particularly in the church, itself. If Jesus served and taught this way, I would be in a lot of trouble. Because I am severely flawed, certainly not good enough to be in some kind of exclusive club, that seems the type 8 leadership tends to create….either you are “in”, as in safe, submissive, never questions the order of things, or you are “out” some kind of rogue threat to the leadership for simply having questions. I walk away form church every single time, thinking there is something wrong with me, that I should be able to just do what I am supposed to do, fit in, say the right things, don’t question, just make the swell casserole and smile. But I have wonder and questions and an impulse to want to be vulnerable….and this kind of leadership frowns on vulnerable, frowns on “emotional”…don’t listen to your heart, snub it out and do what you are told. It makes me hurt for what I had. And it makes me feel like a terrible person for not attending church anymore. I still wonder if it is just me.
I appreciate your vulnerability here. I have wrestled and do wrestle with these questions. More often lately in relation to a small group setting rather than the large group church setting.
Don, do you ever listen to Francis Chan? He’s a conservative Christian leader, but none of your criticisms seem to apply to him. What does this mean? DUN DUN DUN
I think people have an identity crisis.
We label ourselves conservative or liberal – charismatic or intellectual – religious or spiritual – and on and on and on. We put labels on ourselves – we put labels on others. We give generalization after generalization on people without knowing that it can be terribly hurtful and completely wrong. So often we do it without even knowing we’re doing it. Many times we put ourselves into our generalizations and we end up hurting ourselves. Labels create division, and division creates war, and war leads to death. I thought Jesus was about life…
It’s like we’re a bunch of squabbling kids pointing fingers and calling each other names (some of us do it with credentials) and the whole time our Father looks at the whole lot of us and says,
“This is my son (daughter) whom I love, with him (her) I am well pleased.”
We often don’t see each other (or ourselves) the way God sees us. I wonder how different life would be if we did…
We are coheirs with Jesus. We are God’s kids. Our identity is simply found “in Christ.”
Take into account that Jesus is the walking definition of love. Our identity is found in Him. That’s good news for everyone!
We are the “disciple(s) whom Jesus loves.” I think that’s a better label than conservative or liberal – or any of them actually. Because it’s true about all of us.
While our opinions and upbringing may be very different – may we not fall into the trap of labeling ourselves one way or another so that the lines that we draw keep us from loving each other. I would hope we might let God’s label (the identity He gives us) be good enough.
“Peace on Earth to men,
On whom God’s favor rests.”
That’s what this blog made me think of…
Thanks for writing!
Jer
Love this, Jeremy. Couldn’t agree more!
Don,
Interesting thoughts! I would also add that 1s tend to gravitate toward conservative views, and 4s toward liberal ones. My church group of married 20somethings loves Enneagram, and many of our most insightful conversations have been full of Ennea-talk! I’m glad to know that you are interested too.
Best,
Curtis
[...] of my favorite authors, Donald Miller wrote an excellent blog post on personality types and the way people perceive truth, and how it effects the way they relate to [...]
I’ve long wondered about the relationship between personality theory and not merely theology proper, but practical theology as well. I.E. Within Evanglical paradigms,are the more extroverted put in charge of worship out of our cultural success/strengths driven mentality which contributes to the movement of contemplative types toward traditions that have a higher value of corporate silence/stillness/contemplation?
Hope to read more thoughts from you on this in the future!
[...] Perry Noble Black Preacher: Why I Forgave George Wallace – Wayne Drash, CNN Belief Blog Do Liberal Theologians Feel More at Home with God? – Don Miller Standing with Sojourners: When Progressive Isn’t Progressive Enough – [...]
This came at the perfect time for me. I was just telling God the other day that I was concerned at how much my theology seemed to be morphing over time, as I came to know him better. I didn’t want to become wishy-washy, but I’ve come to new conclusions on various topics over my years of reading scripture. I started out in a very controlled, rigid theological environment, and a very dysfunctional home. There was a specific answer to every question in life – with no variations. Now I realize that the work I have been doing toward grace and freedom in my own heart and mind is a contributing factor in what has been happening to my theological perspectives. I used to be a controlled conservative, and now I see myself as a more relaxed conservative moving toward a more liberal mindset. Thanks for the perspective!
I think the liberal vs conservative mindset is a total trap. The government uses this mentality to get us away from thinking about ourselves and our communities, to thinking about us vs them. When was the last time you made a “liberal” or “conservative” decision? And if you did, then you’re restricting your own options at the expense of yourself (possible better options that are neither liberal nor conservative).
Generalizations work handsomely on the aggregate. They totally fail on an individual level. Go out and meet one person if you don’t believe this.
And I do agree with where you’re going on your recent post about individuals, which you also mentioned here. Whatever group you identify with will color your worldview. So the more we perpetuate these identities (liberal, conservative) the less able we become to see people as INDIVIDUALS, and the less able we become to act like one.
I think I’m reading this a little differently than some of the people responding. Regarding Conservative and Liberal are you referring to our political and religious biases or are you referring to our personalities? I know people who are politically and religiously conservative but are more liberal in how they handle “the world” and their relationships. I also know people who are politically and religiously liberal but are more conservative in their relationships.
I see an interesting twist here. Many people make the mistake in defining what liberal and conservative is by boxing them into just religion and politics. However, I definitely relate to this article. It explains some of the sour relationships that I have had…especially in ministry.
I tend to be more liberal (very trusting) in my relationships with people and I really clash with people who are very conservative (protective of themselves) in personality and how they deal with people. When people…even if they may have a very outgoing personality…are seeking to protect their own identity and don’t care that they may be walking over others to do so, I get deeply angered because I hate seeing others getting knocked down. That’s when I start fighting and get myself in trouble.
I definitely see how 2′s and 8′s clash because 2′s are more concerned with reaching out to those around them who are in need…even if it may mean being taken advantage of…while 8′s (even though they may see the need around them) primary concern is to make sure they (and in the case of many “8″ pastors) their churches are protected from the outside world.
And I see a definite trend in churches. When calling a pastor churches tend to want 8′s because of their strong, protective personalities while 2′s tend to be viewed as weak and submissive. But then lead pastors who are 8′s tend to be attracted to 2′s because they see a need and desire for that need to be met and see the qualities that a 2 has in reaching out to those needs, but also misinterpret that 2 as being weak and submissive and then are shocked to realize that 2 is not as weak and submissive as they first interpreted and what was seemingly a good fit turns into a hellacious fight.
Just saying…
Something to ponder…..
This is a great article that explains the lack of enthusiasm on the world view of us so called Christians. I find it quite humorous that the so called leaders of Christiandom are supposed to be Theologins.Theology is to simply STUDY GOD. Christians are simply to be CHRISTLIKE. Ist Cor. 3:16 simply ask the question “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? I feel that mans religion has choked out the God that resides in man. Todays theologins in large, have little Christ within themselves to give. Because they donate their time and energy to silly studies that try to explain away why this mighty God that they study, does nothing of the supernatural for themselves, or in there own spiritual lives.
Wow! Way to bring it to the point. I appreciate your insights. And as they say, “It is what it is.” I agree with you.
Don, I’m wondering where you fall on the Enneagram? I’m a 7, majorly. But I have many 2 characteristics too. But 7 is my wheelhouse.
I really think Don ought to stick to writing and avoid psychology. Having trafficked in the mental health world for 30 years now, I see less and less benefit in generalizations like those that Don and the enneagram offers. I now believe this sort of reductionism is not only not helpful but also just another way to mercilessly judge others.
Love your books Don, but your psychology stinks.
There will always be tension between those who represent order and those who represent passion. Any society which includes both is going to flourish.
Thank you for this. I am very interested in this type of thing, personalities and how it relates to a person’s theology. I took a free version of the Enneagram and it was very interesting. I am a 9. Sheds some light on my own problems and reasons why I do what I do. I have just found your blog site and am excited to read whatever else you may have around the corner. Thank you tons for your thoughts, it is all very relevant to me and my own thoughts.
Leslie Roths’s comment about “bumping into each other” in terms of perspective reminds me of the scripture “iron sharpens iron; so does a man sharpen the countenance of his friend”; that is than we hone each other and sharpen our understanding and wisdom by conversing with others with different points of view.
[...] Miller reflects on his conservative and liberal friends and their personality types as they relate to their theological positions. This is probably a bit reductionistic, but in general I think he’s got some [...]
Great topic! This is what I’ve noticed too. I’ve found people that similar personalities going to the same church. But I think few would admit that their personality has any bearing on the way they view and relate to God.
I really agree with you on ” I find myself drawn more to a conservative theology but a liberal personality. It’s sometimes torture for me to hang out with my conservative friends because they are often trying to figure out who is on their side in some kind of war. My liberal friends can be frustrating because they don’t feel a sense of urgency about anything save justice issues.”
I don’t know if a 8 always makes a good leader and a 5 always a good conversation. Sometimes what people are best at is what they are initially the most reluctant to do. I think a mature 8 could be great at conversations, because they naturally care deeply about truth. And a mature 5 could be great at leadership, because they’re not inclined to control people.
I’m a 9 (and an INFP). My husband is a 5 (probably a ISTP)
Ha! I’m a five, and no surprise, quite proud to be one.
It would be wise for everyone to read this article on enneagram’s, as it shows the occult connection and how this has crept into the church and has no objective basis in reality or the Bible:
http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Enneagram.html
It never ceases to amaze me how judgemental and stereotypical articles like this are. On one hand we are told conservatives are are fist up attitude toward the world, and liberals are all embracing and have an arms out attitude toward the world. I consider myself a very loving person who believes that God’s word is the source of truth, and that sin should be exposed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love. I’m grateful for the people who weren’t afraid to tell me the truth about my condition.
Hi Donald. While I appreciate that you give the Enneagram some well-deserved space as it pertains to theology, I find your piece here highly problematic. As someone who has been teaching the Enneagram for over a decade and has been schooled in theology as a priest, I would suggest that you are doing what you yourself offer a veiled warning about in your first paragraph – you’re using the tool of the Ennegram to tell people who they are. While your generalizations could prove to have some basis, I would point out that you’re only giving anecdotal evidence for your thesis based solely on your observations. If I were to do the same, I would say that I kow plenty of 1′s, 6′s and, yes even 8′s who are theologically liberal – but then I have to offer up that most of my friends are either Buddhist or belong to the Episcopal Church. Second, have you assigned types to your friends or have they all embraced the Enneagram enough to be able to clearly identify themselves as the types you offer them up as? Assigning types to people is ALWAYS dangerous mostly because people rarely take into account their own projections about certain types when assigning them. For example, I have to pay attention everytime I think I’m dealing with a 1 people I’m hypersensitive to judgment. Another problem I’ve found when people assign types to others is that most people fail to see past the behaviors and into the motivations of the people they are typing (because they can’t) – which is what the Enneagram is truly about. Finally, while personality does have an impact on one’s theology, it’s not as simple as conservative and liberal because you have to take the content apart from the reaction/response to it. For example, rather than stating that someone who leans toward controlling their environment (which, is what all the types are trying to do when you study them in depth) is going to be conservative in their theology, a better use of the Enneagram would prompt one to state that they are going to have a conservative ‘approach’ to their theology… which is vastly different than a conservative theology.
In short, there are so many influences that form a person and therefore form their concept(s) of God, that while the Enneagram can be used as a part of understanding how that happens, it’s not a sure bet nor is it helpful to be used as a labeling tool. I commend to you the work of W. Paul Jones – which, although not nearly as well-formed in its theory, is much more helpful in this particular endeavor.
A friend of mine introduced me to the Enneagram a couple of years ago. The night of the introduction a group of us took turns taking the online test and then reading about ourselves to one another. Luckily, we were in a safe place with people in which we could enjoy the painful revelations because that is exactly what the Enneagram was for all of us, painfully true. Being a 2 myself, I was sickened reading about the ways in which I manipulate others in order to feel loved. Being a youth pastor, it has been freeing to me to work on releasing some of my relationships with youth, the ones in which I was using solely to feel acceptance and love. If people will approach the Enneagram with an open mind and truthful self-reflection, it can be a tool for unbelievable growth and change personally and relationally. Much like scripture. Donald, thanks for this post.
[...] of my favorite authors, Donald Miller wrote an excellent blog post on personality types and the way people perceive truth, and how it effects the way they relate to [...]