Based on the work of Urban T. Holmes, and Corinne Ware Discover your spiritual type : a guide to individual and congregational growth.
These typologies are broad, generalized categories. No individual fits perfectly into any one of them. We all have preferences which create a center of gravity for our own spirituality. There is no mode that is better than the others: each modality has a set of gifts, each faces specific temptations, and each has a shadow side, that can be integrated by conscious work in other modes.
INTELLECTUAL SPIRITUALITY
- enjoys study groups…reading good books about theology…and really good, thoughtful sermons
- appreciates sound, well-articulated theology
- singing hymns that contain sound theology
- prefers the well-structured prayers in the prayerbook over extemporaneous prayers
- The Creeds and Doctrines of the Church are very important.
- Favorite parts of scripture might be the authentic letters of Paul, especially Romans
- Approaches God through knowledge of the divine.
GIFTS BROUGHT BY INTELLECTUAL SPIRITUALITY:
- maintaining the coherence of the tradition
- preserving the history and coherence of the faith story
- upholding the traditions and the doctrine of the church
- people grounded in intellectual spirituality ensure that the liturgy is done decently and in order
THE TEMPTATION OF INTELLECTUAL SPIRITUALITY: thinking that because of their understanding of doctrine/theology/liturgy that they are more spiritually advanced than others.
THE SHADOW OF INTELLECTUAL SPIRITUALITY: a tendency toward “rationalism,” and over-intellectualism. Can appear dry and dogmatic to others.
DEVOTIONAL SPIRITUALITY
- enjoys feeling transported by worship
- singing hymns and music with emotional impact
- sharing stories of how Jesus changed lives
- may believe that prayers are more heartfelt and true when they are extemporaneous
- may prefer the stories of Jesus healing in the bible.
- approaches God/Jesus/Spirit as a companion or friend.
GIFTS BROUGHT BY DEVOTIONAL SPIRITUALITY:
- warmth of feeling
- energy and the freedom of expression in worship that others lack
- people grounded in devotional spirituality keep us connected to one another, and focused on evangelism—on telling the story, and making it meaningful.
THE TEMPTATION OF DEVOTIONAL SPIRITUALITY: thinking that because of their deep emotional experiences that “my walk with God is closer than anyone else’s”
THE SHADOW OF DEVOTIONAL SPIRITUALITY: a tendency to become exclusive—feeling “we devotional types are the only ones who really ‘get it’, and consequently, “It’s us against the world”
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY
- prefers silence and retreats
- may practice meditation or chanting
- probably enjoys incense and immersing all of the senses in a worship experience
- believes prayer is more about listening to God than talking to God
- approaches God by seeking a union with God who is beyond comprehension
- their inner world may be as real as the outer world (or more so)
- “Be still and know that I am God” might be a favorite passages of scripture
GIFTS OF CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY:
- seeing life and spirit as a seamless whole
- pushing the frontiers of spirituality and enabling others to imagine what is possible—if we’re only open to it
- reminding us that it’s the journey not the destination that matters
- people grounded in contemplative spirituality tend to be pioneers—opening the frontiers of what is possible
THE TEMPTATION OF CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY: withdrawing, and going so far inside that they can’t (or don’t ) share their gifts with others.
THE SHADOW OF CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY: a tendency to withdraw from others and from reality, can also exhibit a spiritual passivity or “quietism”.
ACTIVE SPIRITUALITY
- may seek out visionary leaders (or strive to be a visionary leader)
- intent on acting in the world in order to bring about the reign of God
- may see acting in the world (serving, marching, advocating to make this world more just) as their primary form of prayer
- may experience more spiritual fulfillment at the soup kitchen, in the garden, or visiting people in the hospital than in the pews
- “Faith without works is dead,” is likely a favorite passages of scripture
- Approaches God by working with and on behalf of others
GIFTS BROUGHT BY ACTIVE SPIRITUALITY:
- lead us to confront difficult issues
- upholds the ideals of peace and justice, and often have the energy to implement that vision and turn it into reality
- remind us that doing a variety of simple but meaningful tasks (gardening, ironing, cooking) also furthers the reign of God
THE TEMPTATION OF ACTIVE SPIRITUALITY: may leap before they look, and since there will always be another problem to solve burn-out is a real possibility.
THE SHADOW OF ACTIVE SPIRITUALITY: can exhibit a kind of tunnel-vision, only recognizing those who are working as hard (and on the same things) as them and dismissing others.