Spiritual Type Inventory

A personality quiz is a tool that helps us assess what kind of personality you have. Many of these, like the Myers-Briggs, offer insights into the way we think and act. Although no personality quiz is perfect, they can help us understand the differences between people with different personalities.

Similarly, we all have a spiritual personality type as well. These four types show us how we understand and relate to God, and how we fill a certain role in the kingdom of God. Part of our goal as Christians should be to affirm our primary spiritual personality type, and also to grow and adapt in our secondary areas.

The following inventory is composed of 22 questions. For each question, select the answer that best describes you. (There are no wrong answers, so don't feel pressured!) You may like both answers, or neither answer, but you need to choose one!

1. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I prefer to think of God as revealed and knowable.
I prefer to think of God as hidden and mystery.

2. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I prefer to focus on the similarities that exist between God and God’s creatures.
I prefer to focus on the radical differences exist between God and God’s creation.

3. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Concepts, images, and symbols help to make God real to me.
Only dark, silent love can comprehend the incomprehensible God.

4. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

The good news requires me to use my intellect in an affirmative way.
The good news is that God can be experienced in a relationship of mystical love.

5. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Meditation on God’s Word leads me to illumination of God’s will.
Contemplation of God’s being leads me to union with God.

6. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Detachment
Attachment

7. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Spending time with God
Doing things for God

8. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Letting go
Taking charge

9. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Seeing ordinary things as God might see them
Desiring the extraordinary to experience God

10. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Floating
Swimming

11. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Seeking the God of consolations
Seeking the consolations of God

12. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Congregations need better sermons and classes.
Congregations need expressive worship and small groups.

13. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I enjoy thinking about God and things of God.
I enjoy feeling the presences and caring of God.

14. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Illumination of the mind is central to spirituality.
Illumination of the heart is central to spirituality.

15. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

God has a good path into my life through my will.
God has a good path into my life through my intuition.

16. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I value truth.
I value feelings.

17. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Devoted
Determined

18. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I more often let my heart rule my head.
I most often let my head rule my heart.

19. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Touching
Convincing

20. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

I usually value sentiment more than logic.
I usually value logic more than sentiment.

21. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Compassion
Foresight

22. Mark the statement that comes closest to describing your preference or habits.

Whenever possible, I try to be a person of real feelings.
Whenever possible, I try to be a consistently reasonable person.

Heart	0	Soul	0
Mind	0	Strength	0

This inventory is adapted from “A Circle of Sensibility” in A History of Christian Spirituality by Urban Holmes III. Copyright © 1980 by Urban Holmes III.