The Religion of MBTI

**NotSoRighteousRob** · 02-14-2010 05:35 AM

Now I'm sure some may find it offensive to have the MBTI compared to religion, but I am going to show you why I've started to see it this way.

Sure, there may not be a God or gods, but not all religions focus on a higher power, some state that the higher power is in us, and talk of seeking a path to better understanding and enlightenment.

When it comes right down to it, what is a religion except for faith in an idea? Well, the MBTI is really just an idea, people are placing their faith in tests and in what they believe to be the "truth" about themselves.

There are many religions, just as there are many types, types that often stick with their own, sort of like protestants, or Catholics, or Jewish people. Sure there may be interaction between the different assemblies. But I have seen so many thread titles and posts that already lump different types together, the same way different religions lump different faiths together.

You have your prophets, your "wise" men. You have your idols.

You have your believers and your non-believers, your atheists and your agnostics, and your faithful.

Maybe because I lack faith, I can not believe in the MBTI.

**Nearsification** · 02-14-2010 11:11 AM

Uhhhhhh? I'm not sure what to say. People put faith and believe in many things does not mean its a religion.

**Kevinaswell** · 02-14-2010 11:12 AM

This is the exact reason I prefer to think of differing temperaments in terms of the Big 5.

**TurranMC** · 02-14-2010 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Jonnystorm10

Uhhhhhh? I'm not sure what to say. People put faith and believe in many things does not mean its a religion.

Pretty much this. Using this backwards logic you could argue Science is a religion because people put faith into it.

**Marino** · 02-14-2010 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Kevinaswell

This is the exact reason I prefer to think of differing temperaments in terms of the Big 5.

And why I am an apersonalityist. :p
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**fiasco** · 02-14-2010 11:45 AM

I think it's a pretty valid comparison. A little extreme, I guess, but valid nonetheless. Some people can get pulled into the "cult of personality" if they aren't careful. If the mbti system can be compared to a religion, however, I'd like to think most people involved are -- rather than faithful devotees -- simply theologists.

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

You have your prophets, your "wise" men. You have your idols.

This made me laugh, because I thought of how someone called out Grey in their thread title

(Please don't take that seriously, hahaha)

**NotSoRighteousRob** · 02-14-2010 11:46 AM

well science is based on actual facts, most of it. but I agree, it is one of those things that can be twisted into meaning whatever you like. Some people do take science to the point of religion, and I was not implying everyone did this with MBTI, but I believe under the right circumstances this could be transformed into a cult, but what couldn't nowadays

**MNiS** · 02-14-2010 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

well science is based on actual facts, most of it. but I agree, it is one of those things that can be twisted into meaning whatever you like. Some people do take science to the point of religion, and I was not implying everyone did this with MBTI, but I believe under the right circumstances this could be transformed into a cult, but what couldn't nowadays

You do realize that in science what is accepted as fact today was once theory and speculation, right?

But yeah, I agree to a small extent that if MBTI is taken too seriously it could be viewed as a religion. Fortunately no one on this forum seems to take it that seriously, so it's a non-issue.

**Nearsification** · 02-14-2010 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by MisterNi

You do realize that in science what is accepted as fact today was once theory and speculation, right?

But yeah, I agree to a small extent that if MBTI is taken too seriously it could be viewed as a religion. Fortunately no one on this forum seems to take it that seriously, so it's a non-issue.

We should hope no one takes it that seriously. If not we have a problem.

**NotSoRighteousRob** · 02-14-2010 12:09 PM

I'll be honest, for some reason this thought came to me as I slept and it sounded like an interesting discussion. I am well aware that most people on this forum are rational beings, I just found it amusing to picture things taking a turn towards something along the lines of the MBTI cult. In fact I think someone even posted a suggestion thread about starting cults not too long ago