Thinkers are people who naturally connect with the Holy One through the use of their intellect. They want to clearly understand their faith and appreciate having logical explanations for what they are asked to believe. They will read and study, alone or with others, in order to better grasp the truth of their faith. They believe that God wants them to discover the order that may seem hidden in the more abstract aspects of religious faith. They seek to relate to the Holy One through thinking, study, and discussion. They tend to be more formal in their prayer. If they were to meet God face to face, they would want to discuss with God how they have come to understand their faith.

A good Scriptural example of a thinker was Paul. He had a keen and well-trained intellect and was able not only to understand the many layers of faith and spiritual development, but was able to skillfully teach them to others. He was fearless in confronting his enemies and persecutors because he was so confident that he could persuade others of the truth through well-reasoned thought.

If you are a thinker, you will ordinarily find your soul fed through spiritual practices that encourage faith through intellectual development. The Questions of Faith and Doubt and material written by Marcus Borg, Frederick Borsch, Phyllis Tickle and Bob Hansel may nourish your hungry soul. You may find Borg’s thoughts on The Heart of Christianity, Tickle’s observations about religion in America and Borsch’s interview relating to his book The Spirit Searches Everything of particular interest. Explorefaith.org’s Bookshelf section will also offer numerous resources for further reading and exploration.

Thinkers have more difficulty relating to the Holy One through their emotions and affections. The material on Mystics and Mysticism, Saints Prophets and Spiritual Guides and Getting from Sunday to Monday may provide insight and ideas on how to develop that less-used part of your soul. Plus the Oasis sections for meditating using art and music and the insights of Kristen Johnson Ingram on Doing Prayer can help with non-verbal ways to connect with the Holy.

Curious about the other types? Find out about:

companions | believers | mavericks | lovers | seekers

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