tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133718.post8612673726098622611..comments2023-06-28T22:58:28.247+10:00Comments on Sixth In Line: Three bears, cults and extraversionElisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015624747225433940noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133718.post-14651010073791597352013-12-17T05:11:50.472+11:002013-12-17T05:11:50.472+11:00I've taken the Myers-Briggs test several times...I've taken the Myers-Briggs test several times over my life and I come out as INFJ. The fact that I score as an introvert does;t surprise me, but it seems bit strange for a person with a relatively high public persona. I've learned to be extroverted, to deal with the three-quarters of society which function that way. But I also pay a price for that learned extroversion. <br /><br />One thing that introverted life does is give me lots of time to think. And hence to eschew a lot of strange behaviour, like that of cults. I still focus on things which improve Community and individuals.<br /><br />Blessings and Bear hugs!Rob-bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133718.post-70856726431041204472013-12-15T08:41:50.406+11:002013-12-15T08:41:50.406+11:00As always, enjoyed the read.. It does all come dow...As always, enjoyed the read.. It does all come down to balance☺Anthony Ducehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17476865809734682418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133718.post-90205857817849138492013-12-14T23:41:45.616+11:002013-12-14T23:41:45.616+11:00I don’t know if you read my recent review of Quiet...I don’t know if you read my recent review of <a href="http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/quiet-power-of-introverts-in-world-that.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Quiet</i></a> by Susan Cain but after reading it I’m willing to be persuaded that I’m more of an ambivert than a full-blown introvert. The last thing I am is an extrovert. I’ve sat the Myers Briggs test a few times over the years and I agree with you that the options are too restrictive; the best we can get is an approximation of what we’re like <i>on that day</i>. I just sat the <a href="http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp" rel="nofollow">Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test</a> and my scores were: Introvert(78%) iNtuitive(12%) Thinking(12%) Judging(44%). If we consider my answer to one question you’ll see the problem: It is easy for you to communicate in social situations? I answered ‘No’ but the fact is I don’t have a problem communicating in social situations; I just don’t like doing it. From the look of things we’re not much alike. I wonder why we get on so well. Maybe we wouldn’t in real life although I suspect we’d both make more of an effort with each other. Apparently George Smiley, John le Carre's master spy and Hannibal Lecter are both INTJs. Not sure how I feel about that. What I’d like to know is how mood disorders affect this test. If I was in a blue funk would I feel more or think more? When I’m depressed <i>both</i> my thinking and feeling seem to be on overdrive. Not simple, is it?<br /><br />I know we Scots tend to be associated with porridge and whisky but I can’t stand either of them. Just the smell of porridge is enough to make me retch although the worst smell in the world in <a href="http://www.ambrosia.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Ambrosia Rice Pudding</a>.<br /><br />One of the nice things about not working is not having to attend Xmas parties. I always went (ever the dutiful employee) but excused myself straight after the meal before people got too drunk. I don’t drink anymore. Never been able to handle my alcohol—three pints and I’m smashed—and so I avoid it. Carrie’s been trying some liqueurs recently and I’ve had a sip of each of them but I really don’t miss the drink besides the last thing someone like me needs to be chucking down his throat is a depressant. That’s another thing these tests don’t factor in. I’d have no problems attending a conference but a party’s a very different ballgame.<br /><br />I’ve never been on a retreat of any kind. I’ve hardly ever been on holiday. I’m definitely a home bird. Prayer is a whole other subject. I never prayed as a kid. I was never taught to. Looking back it seems such a terrible omission on my parents’ part but there you go. The only time we prayed as a family was at mealtimes and it was the briefest giving thanks you could imagine, as close to “Rub-a-dub-dub and thanks for the grub” as you could get. I was a teenager before I was asked to pray in public and it was such a strange experience but I faked it and even became quite good at it but there was nothing personal about it. I never prayed at any other time. I never felt the need. To my mind—and I think to my parents’ minds too—prayer should’ve been something that one did naturally, that it would be harder <i>not</i> to pray but that was never the case with me. I enjoyed Bible study—can’t pretend I didn’t—but I’d no concept of spirituality and still don’t. I didn’t <i>need</i> to talk to God. Just had a wee look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and I don’t see ‘spirituality’ anywhere on it. Wonder why not?<br /><br />The word ‘cult’ gets bandied about quite a bit these days. I think it’s best applied to small groups in the dozens or hundreds rather than the millions. I’m very familiar with Anthony Hoekema’s book <i>The Four Major Cults: Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventism</i> but whether you agree with what they teach these are <i>bona fide</i> religions. Is Islam a cult or Shinto because they don’t believe in the Bible? Some of their ideas sound pretty kooky to me. Organised religion just makes me tired. All of it.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.com