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Discover Your Spiritual Type
From Urban T. Holmes's spiritual typology and her own experience as a spiritual director and pastoral counselor, Ware provides a framework for people to name and understand their spiritual experience-in much the same way the Myers-Briggs typology provides a framework for understanding personality types. Readers explore four spiritual types--head, heart, mystic, and Kingdom--and exercises allow individuals and groups to assess their type. Additional information for clergy to use this tool with congregations is included, which will help them gain greater understanding of how members learn about, worship, and celebrate God--and why there may be tension about such issues as the form or content of the worship service.
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
16 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2023
I confess, I was enticed by the clickbait-y title. I should have put it back when I noticed it was written by a Christian pastoral counselor with a specialty in evangelism. But I believed her when she said she was writing for a Jewish audience as well (not to mention that I got this book from my synagogue's library!), and I was very wrong. Oy.
I took her Spiritual Type Selector Test and had to flip back to make sure I was in fact taking the "Jewish version." It seems as though she did little more than a find-and-replace to swap mentions of Jesus for Torah. Like many Christians, I don't think she realizes that Jews do not preach or witness. (Yes, some practice kiruv, but that is certainly not what she's talking about.) Or that Jews tend to not think much at all about Jesus, let alone care about him or his spiritual approach as a model for our own. Different denominations and communities have wildly different relationships to music during services. Any reference to "God's glory" is a big red flag, not to mention a few hints towards supersessionist belief (!!).
This book was written almost 30 years ago. It looks like she never wrote a second edition. But I hope since then that she has at least learned literally anything about Judaism, or accepted that she should stick to what she knows and write just for evangelical Christians.
I took her Spiritual Type Selector Test and had to flip back to make sure I was in fact taking the "Jewish version." It seems as though she did little more than a find-and-replace to swap mentions of Jesus for Torah. Like many Christians, I don't think she realizes that Jews do not preach or witness. (Yes, some practice kiruv, but that is certainly not what she's talking about.) Or that Jews tend to not think much at all about Jesus, let alone care about him or his spiritual approach as a model for our own. Different denominations and communities have wildly different relationships to music during services. Any reference to "God's glory" is a big red flag, not to mention a few hints towards supersessionist belief (!!).
This book was written almost 30 years ago. It looks like she never wrote a second edition. But I hope since then that she has at least learned literally anything about Judaism, or accepted that she should stick to what she knows and write just for evangelical Christians.
June 14, 2019
As a book, in terms of the writing and organization and such, this isn't great. As a resource, however, this is really interesting and something I'm going to take with me into my church work. The premise is that we all have a dominant way that we experience spirituality, and as someone who has done so much work in professional settings with Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, and StrengthsFinder, I am glad to think about this in a spiritual way.
The test, the descriptions, and the correlations between individual and congregation are very helpful tools and I do encourage the reader to think about this for yourself and your worship setting. It turns out I'm mostly a 1 (Kataphatic/Speculative, the Head spirituality, which surprises me not at all) but my current congregation is largely 4 (Speculative/Apophatic, the Kingdom spirituality). While these are not at all rigid or exclusive, as Ware continually points out, they are helpful in giving language to difference and similarity.
The Jewish and Catholic versions in the appendix felt rather forced to me, as folks will adapt the test as they need to best on their own, but otherwise this is a handy little guide. I wouldn't read it straight through again and I don't know that I'd recommend it wholesale to a congregant, but I'll definitely be using pieces of it in my own ministry.
The test, the descriptions, and the correlations between individual and congregation are very helpful tools and I do encourage the reader to think about this for yourself and your worship setting. It turns out I'm mostly a 1 (Kataphatic/Speculative, the Head spirituality, which surprises me not at all) but my current congregation is largely 4 (Speculative/Apophatic, the Kingdom spirituality). While these are not at all rigid or exclusive, as Ware continually points out, they are helpful in giving language to difference and similarity.
The Jewish and Catholic versions in the appendix felt rather forced to me, as folks will adapt the test as they need to best on their own, but otherwise this is a handy little guide. I wouldn't read it straight through again and I don't know that I'd recommend it wholesale to a congregant, but I'll definitely be using pieces of it in my own ministry.
March 19, 2008
Some people find peace and renewal with a familiar ritual while others discover spiritual fulfillment by venturing into new and sometimes unfamiliar experiences. While we all have our preferences, when we seek to nurture a spiritual life, it benefits us to acknowledge, accept, and respect that there are many ways to connect with God. Different strokes for different folks, so the saying goes. This diversity is true for our spiritual lives as well. Conflict arises when everyone believes he/she has the ‘right’ / righteous answer. The unfortunate results of these sometimes well-intended directives are feelings of alienation, marginalization, rejection, anger, humiliation, and an erosion of belief. Has anyone ever made you feel that you are ‘off the mark’ when it comes to your spiritual life?
I think this issue is highly problematic in our culture. We seem very keen about spiritual homogeneity even within our little subgroups of Protestant dominations. We fear waning regard for tradition that has carried a body of believers thus far. Reading this book has helped me to have a deeper understanding and sense of assurance about my beliefs and my unique approach to nurturing a spiritual life.
Corinne Ware, clinical therapist and pastoral counselor at The Samaritan Counseling Center of St. Joseph, Missouri, has reincorporated the spirituality topology map introduced by theologian Urban T. Holmes in his book, A History of Christian Spirituality, by creating a survey of questions that guide the reader to discovering his or her particular spiritual inclinations, in a manner similar to the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for assessing psychological type.
The four dominant spiritual types presented in the book are: speculative-kataphatic—intellectual focus with a desire for order and consistency found in liturgical rituals and traditions; affective-kataphatic—emphasizes feeling, emotion, belief that one can know and have a personal relationship with the Creator; affective-apophatic—a mystic spirituality that emphasizes the journey and a need for inner silence to connect with God; and speculative-apophatic—values an intellectual and action-oriented approach, passion for social justice and affecting social change.
Like the Meyers-Brigs survey, most people will identify with a predominant spiritual tendency and a strong secondary preference. The aim is to increase your understanding, gain comfort with your type, and stretch yourself by reaching out into non-dominant areas. Exploration and challenge will enrich your spiritual life and will increase your understanding and appreciation of others.
I think this issue is highly problematic in our culture. We seem very keen about spiritual homogeneity even within our little subgroups of Protestant dominations. We fear waning regard for tradition that has carried a body of believers thus far. Reading this book has helped me to have a deeper understanding and sense of assurance about my beliefs and my unique approach to nurturing a spiritual life.
Corinne Ware, clinical therapist and pastoral counselor at The Samaritan Counseling Center of St. Joseph, Missouri, has reincorporated the spirituality topology map introduced by theologian Urban T. Holmes in his book, A History of Christian Spirituality, by creating a survey of questions that guide the reader to discovering his or her particular spiritual inclinations, in a manner similar to the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for assessing psychological type.
The four dominant spiritual types presented in the book are: speculative-kataphatic—intellectual focus with a desire for order and consistency found in liturgical rituals and traditions; affective-kataphatic—emphasizes feeling, emotion, belief that one can know and have a personal relationship with the Creator; affective-apophatic—a mystic spirituality that emphasizes the journey and a need for inner silence to connect with God; and speculative-apophatic—values an intellectual and action-oriented approach, passion for social justice and affecting social change.
Like the Meyers-Brigs survey, most people will identify with a predominant spiritual tendency and a strong secondary preference. The aim is to increase your understanding, gain comfort with your type, and stretch yourself by reaching out into non-dominant areas. Exploration and challenge will enrich your spiritual life and will increase your understanding and appreciation of others.
September 13, 2016
I've done several workshops based on this book. Working with Unitarians I had to change some of the language (which the author recommends). Very thought provoking and created much conversation.
May 18, 2016
Just like the Myers-Briggs test helps you identify your personality type, this book helps you identify your spiritual type. Basing her tools and techniques on the spiritual typology created by the late Urban T. Holmes, author Corinne Ware has identified four spiritual types.
And while most of us will have a dominant spiritual type, this tool allows you to find where you also fit in the other three types. The tool can be used to discern not only personal spiritual type, but also congregational spiritual type.
About half the book is devoted to the explanation of and tools for identifying spiritual type, while the other half is written for clergy and retreat leaders who want to use this as an educational tool. (Note: There are three tools--for Protestants, Roman Catholics/Anglicans and Jews.)
Unfortunately, the writing is a bit stilted and academic, reading more like a master's thesis more than a book for a popular audience. In addition, I found and reported 45 typos in the Kindle version.
And while most of us will have a dominant spiritual type, this tool allows you to find where you also fit in the other three types. The tool can be used to discern not only personal spiritual type, but also congregational spiritual type.
About half the book is devoted to the explanation of and tools for identifying spiritual type, while the other half is written for clergy and retreat leaders who want to use this as an educational tool. (Note: There are three tools--for Protestants, Roman Catholics/Anglicans and Jews.)
Unfortunately, the writing is a bit stilted and academic, reading more like a master's thesis more than a book for a popular audience. In addition, I found and reported 45 typos in the Kindle version.
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February 22, 2008This book is a great way to discover our Spiritual Types and, also, to help our congregation understand the congregational type of spirituality.
I would recommend this to pastors for small group use.
I would recommend this to pastors for small group use.
January 3, 2013
I'd like to see a re-read shelf. Currently reading Ware's book again. I think she offers an accessible way to think about types of spirituality and spiritual formation for individuals and for congregations.
October 20, 2008
Great tool. An easy read and highly applicable -- showcasing that we are NOT all the same in how we approach faith.
February 24, 2013
Hope to use this for a Sunday school adult class sometime this fall. Changed my understanding of my own spirituality quite dramatically when I first encountered this in a workshop six years ago.
December 24, 2013
I love the idea. The typology even seems useful. The book, however, is just stunningly weak, shallow and repetitive…
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews