Four Spiritualities: Expressions of Self, Expressions of Spirit: A Psychology of Contemporary Spiritual Choice - Hardcover

Unitarian Universalist minister Richardson offers a handbook for a Jungian spiritual journey through the religious traditions of the world as well as a manual for discovering spiritual self-identity. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a tool for determining personality types, the author demonstrates in his first section that different individuals have different spiritual needs. Richardson applies these insights in his second section as he proceeds to explore, through illustrations from sources as diverse as the Bhagavad Gita and Mother Teresa, the similarities among various world religions. The author points to four spiritual paths?the Journey of Unity, the Journey of Devotion, the Journey of Works and the Journey of Harmony?that are universally present in the world's religious traditions. He then combines the Jungian analysis of personality with the universality of spiritual expression to conclude that our perception of self and world is intimately connected to the spiritual path we choose to follow. Joseph Campbell meets Carl Jung and Myers-Briggs in this rather tired rehearsal of New Age spirituality.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Richardson's application of Jungian typology to spiritual development will be of interest to readers seeking an analytical framework within which to understand their spiritual journeys and the spiritual journeys of others. The book employs the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to illuminate four spiritualities that correspond to four orientations within the sixteen personality types specified by the MBTI. Given the widespread popularity of the MBTI, many readers will find this additional application intriguing. As is to be expected of typological theory, the book has more to do with categorization than with development; but categories can be useful disciplines, and these are likely to prompt dialogue and exploration. Steve Schroeder