Psychological Type and the life of faith

Abstract

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTITM) is widely used in Christian churches as an aid to deeper understanding of one’s own personality and that of one’s fellow believers. It is also presented as a guide to those practices that will be most helpful in developing a Christian’s spiritual life and discipleship. The article examines and critiques the latter notion, concluding that it is unwise to displace and ignore tried-and-tested classical spiritual disciplines on the grounds of incompatibility with one’s personality. Instead, knowing one’s Personality Type should help identify the spiritual disciplines that are attractive and congenial and also those equally important but less congenial disciplines, which may well require determined effort.