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Enneagram Main Board Archive Re: Meeting GOD via the enneagramPosted by Marcus on April 29, 1999 at 15:56:47: In Reply to: Re: Meeting GOD via the enneagram posted by Amanda :) on April 29, 1999 at 13:02:05: > > > > > After a discusiion with a professor of Religion I came to an idea about how the enneagram describes the 3 main ways that religion and phiosophy approach God. > > > > > Thinking Center people (5/6/7) attempt to find or discover the God of the Philosophers. The objective Creative force (7), the Laws of Nature (6), and/or the mathematics of creation and emanation (5). > > > > > Feeling Center people (2/3/4) attempt to meet God as in relationship. Through service in the world(2), in their works (3), or through the sacred in the inner wellsprings of one's self (4). > > > > > Instinctive center people (8/9/1) attempt to influence God. Through force of will (8), union (9), or perfect execution of prescribed duties (1). > > > > > > > > Therefore I would never find, discover, meet, or influence something that > > Never say never... > > I used to be a pure scientific type, an atheist. Someone once said I wasn't an atheist, but just "between Gods". It may have been 12 years between Gods, but he was right. > > The thing is that even atheistic, thinking types are still religious--everyone has beliefs that we can't prove, whether or not we want to. And while we may believe that we live in our own little world, we really don't. We're all part of the same reality, and deep down, I believe we are very much the same. If there is a God, he (I used a small 'h' for you Andy :-) exists in your world as well as mine. Belief doesn't define reality, IMHO. > > - Hal - > Interesting discussion guys....I wondered when the topic would turn to the REAL issues of "life, the universe and everything" (as the 'Guide says)....so I thought I'd add my two cents worth.... > It may come as a surprise to some (not) when I say that I agree with Hal, particularly when he says that belief doesn't define reality. I have never seen Paris - and may choose to believe that it therefore does not exist - but my belief or disbelief doesn't amount to a hill of fresh dingo poo when it comes to the reality. And we are so NOT alone that it is not funny. We are all searching so much for love and connection, that the absence of it leads to despair (as seen in an ever-climbing suicide rate), anger, and a need to lash out - as the incident at the Colorado high school so tragically demonstrates. > I guess my '4-ness' shows most in my never-ending search to understand the meaning of life. I've come to see that I am a physical, conscious/thinking, emotive, relational and spiritual being - and to deny any one part of my full self is to deny an essential part of who I am. I believe in the God who IS love....and we are all searching for love in our lives - hence, I believe, we are all yearning for God in our lives. I know I've put that in very a '4' way - but if you look past the language you'll see that love is the one thing that cuts across every difference we may have - be it personality type, nationality, culture, sex or whatever.... > Just for the record - I do believe in myself. I, for one, am glad that I don't have to rely entirely on myself alone, though. I KNOW I would let myself down eventually - I know myself too well. Not only that, but I take comfort in the fact that God loves me enough to forgive me even when I find it hard to forgive myself.... > points to ponder..... Amanda, I liked and agree with mots everything you had to say--except for your final remarks. Your displaying a self-fulfilling attitude when you state that you "know you'll let yourself down, you know yourself too well". It is by having belief in yourself foremost that you then become capable of not letting yourself down. Knowing yourself well means knowing how to minimize your weaknesses and maximize your strengths and being able to adapt that knowledge to new situations--it doesn't mean being trapped in a certain stste.
Marcus
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