The Five Love Languages
meets Myers-Briggs at church? It sounds like the setup for a joke, but it’s actually the premise of a book, and a decently thoughtful book at that. Perrine, who specializes in pastoral counseling and spiritual formation, draws upon Sacred Pathways
by Gary Thomas, who provides a foreword here. The idea is that individuals relate to God in very different ways, and should tailor their spiritual practices to capitalize on their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. This individuality is nothing to be ashamed of; rather, Perrine insists, we must rejoice in the startling human variety God has created. Perrine offers nine basic spiritual types: the activist, the ascetic, the caregiver, the contemplative, the enthusiast, the intellectual, the naturalist, the sensate and the traditionalist. Readers are invited to take a diagnostic quiz to establish their primary temperament, which they can learn more about in the second half of the guide. The idea for this book is not new; Marita Littauer explored religious temperaments in Your Spiritual Personality
, and the Gallup organization presented helpful statistics along these lines in Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community
. Still, it’s a worthwhile read, especially for pastors, youth workers and other church leaders. (Sept.)
Correction: The June 11 review of Joan Chittister’s Welcome to the Wisdom of the World and Its Meaning for You
(Eerdmans, Aug.) should have been starred.
