Posted by Tal on April 29, 1999 at 19:33:40:
In Reply to: Meeting GOD via the enneagram posted by Dave on April 28, 1999 at 23:06:58:
> 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).
Interesting argument, Dave...
I don't believe you can necessarily divide the types' approaches to God by triads though...
Let's take the first triad, which you say is comprised of types which approach the 'God of Philosophers'. If I understand you correctly (correct me if I'm wrong) you mean these types approach a God whose nature can be described or understood (to an extent) philosophically and so is more of an abstract concept than anything else. I think you run into the biggest problem when you lump 5's and 6's approach together. IMHO 5's and 6's reflect completely opposite ways of thinking, especially as pertains to matters such as God. I would agree that 5's generally seek the most reasonable explanation, and tend towards cold hard facts (hence the prevalence of 5 atheists), but 6's are the opposite of that--they embrace a conception of authority simply because it's authority, not because it happens to be reasonable. A six subordinates himself to God because he believes in God's omnipotence and power over matters; philosophical underpinnings are largely irrelevant. Sixes believe in the "laws of nature" in the sense that they look at whatever happens to be their belief as immovable and concrete, but that's largely out of fear of the structure collapsing under them, not out of philosophical considerations. I don't think you can ever lump 5 and 6's approach together (to me they represent the epitome of either end of the nature of belief).
Then take the feeling center; to say these type view God in terms of relationship is misleading too, I think. The best approximation I can think of this is to say that their mentality towards God is one of give and take: "if I do this and that and it makes God happy, God will take care of me". But in this case you're obliged to lump 1's and 2's together, since both of them seek to conform to a certain code of 'good' behaviour to please and appease God. Threes might also fit into this equation somewhere, but in a different form, because a Three's relationship to God is usually the same as their relationship to other people, namely that they want to shine in God's eyes. As for Fours, I don't think Fours fit very well into this dynamic. I think Fours tend more to have a sense of connection to God through artistic or creative mediums, or through beauty. But conversely Fours are almost always nihilistic when depressed.
Type 8 is interesting. The notion of an 8 believing in God is a paradox in itself: 8's hate submission, and most conceptions of God unfortunately involve submission to a large extent. I liked the way DEECEE summed it up in his reply to your post when he said that he believes in God when he wants to, not when God wants. That's typical of 8's; I agree with you when you say that they relate to God through force of will, but I think 8's capacity to submit in any case is stunted. When they 'believe' they're internalising the authority of God more than anything.
Ditto for 1's, who've internalised authority to the point where they are constantly appeasing the inner judge (who they often happen to label "God"). I think the important differentiation between 2/6 and 1/8 with respect to God is that with the former God is externalised, and in the latter internalised. But I don't know if I agree that 1's and 8's try to 'influence' God; if this is the case you can just as readily say that 2's try to influence God through appealing to him by good behaviour, and 3's via good work, and so on. As for 9's , I think their relationship to God is more similar to 6's than any thing else; they tend to merge with an idealization of God--submission is total under a veneer of unity.
That leaves 7's, whose view of God is largely of a big guy in the sky who likes wine and cheese and encourages them do whatever they want :)