Soul Types - Matching Your Personality and Spiritual Path

by Sandra Krebs Hirsh, Jane A.G. Kise

'SoulTypes' is a valuable tool for individual growth and strategic planning for those in leadership roles in congregations and other faith-based organisations.

Genres: Spirituality, Psychology, Personal Development, Self Help, Nonfiction, Religion, Reference

254 pages

First published October 7, 1998

Reviews

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spiritual life does not involve one path, type, or understanding. Using the MBTI as their foundation, Kise and Hirsh walk the readers through the perspectives of each personality type, their strengths and styles that will most connect to their spiritual language. Just as with the MBTI, one personality is not "better" than the other. Each personality type, each spiritual path, has valuable insights to offer.

Spirituality is not only about understanding, but wholeness, which makes this book a valuable tool for individuals as well as groups. As stated in their conclusion, "In spirituality, traveling down just one path can be the route to stagnation, offering little chance of surprise, challenge, or development. For all types, spiritual wholeness develops when we see 'how the other half lives' - when we allow for insights and information from sipritual experiences that are different from our initial, more natural paths." I appreciate that this book offers not only a challenge for individual wholeness, but wholeness within a worshiping community as well. What would a congregation look like when it offers a scope of spiritual language and experiences to meet us in our variety? The appendix also offers a useful, 5-session group study to usher a congregation on its way to spiritual wholeness.

[kylajaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather inclusive book, which I appreciate. However, since it is based on the MBTI, there is really only one chapter that will be useful to a person. Of course, the beginning chapters are nice too, but with only one chapter (that could be meatier) for each person, the book feels like a waste of money.

[Angy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a guide about how the MBTI types tend to view spirituality (particularly Christianity) based on interviews that the authors had with people who identify as certain types. I have studied MBTI for a long time and I did not find anything in this book that was particularly comprehensive about the subject. For my particular type (ISTP), the authors basically pointed out the obvious: that we hate worship in groups and we are skeptical. Tell me something I don't know.

[Dr. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have taken a Myers-Briggs personality test and wonder about your feelings towards spirituality, religion, faith, etc— let this book tell you a little about yourself & how your personality impacts them 🤯

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introductory book for personality type and spiritual pathways. Hirsch and Kise begin the book with a brief explanation of psychological type and preferences and discuss how each type functions. The book uses personality information based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It considers approaches for soul work that come naturally to each type, addresses events and situations where each type might be turned away from spirituality, and seeks to provide each type with ways to grow in these situations.

I found valuable information in reading about each aspect of my Myers-Briggs Type and how it might function on my spiritual journey. I also enjoyed learning about the different approaches to the spiritual life.

[rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

broken down into four spiritual pathways based on each type's primary function: sensing, intuition, feeling, and thinking.

the authors (an enfp and infj) offer guidance for each type to find the most natural pathways for spiritual pursuit and identify potential areas of difficulty and stress.

it was all mostly on point for me. a little to christian, though.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was slow going at first, but I appreciated the diversity of thought about religion it exposed me to. I felt like I have a better handle on who I am and what I am about although I do not feel as though I fall into one of those categories so neatly, possibly because of experience or just human uniqueness. I did feel that this was an important read for me.

[Mary Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find Myers-Briggs stuff interesting/ and thought I'd see what it had to say regarding spirituality. I found it more interesting to read about other types than my own- fun- but just theories.

[Marie]

A great companion book for those interested in the work of Meyers Briggs