The Enneagram: a Christian perspective (by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert)

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It was a long time - over twenty years - since I read ‘The Enneagram: a Christian perspective’ by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert. It was one of the first books I read on the topic of the Enneagram, something I was only just beginning to explore. I had been a bit concerned about whether it was somewhat occult, to be avoided; I found the book very reassuring, if a tad heavy.

Richard Rohr is a Roman Catholic priest in the United States, and I have read some of his other books more recently. I find his writing very interesting, if sometimes a tad too intellectual, and occasionally verging on what seems, to me, almost heretical. In this book he’s teamed with Andreas Ebert who was a German Protestant pastor; so there’s some balance there.  This book was originally published in German.

The first section of the book is mainly about the historic roots of the Enneagram. The authors look at its earliest use - by Christians as well as Muslims and Pagans - and point out that it’s rooted in what Christians refer to as the seven ‘deadly sins’, with a couple of extras thrown in. They demonstrate how it’s a very useful tool in churches and other religious gatherings, and that the transformation which is enables works a lot better when God is involved.

There are explanations about what’s meant by ‘obsessions’ in the Enneagram world, and about the importance of understanding ourselves in depth. Only when we see ourselves objectively can we have any chance of moving out of our negative stances and thought patterns, to find a more positive, healthy version of who we are meant to be. 

I was pretty sure that my Enneagram type is the ‘Nine’. It took me some years to realise this, after reading several other books on the topic, and discussing it in depth on one of the long-gone online forums. Personality tests online and in books are notoriously inaccurate, and depend to some degree on our current moods, our circumstances, and our stage of life. 

So there’s no test as such in this book. Instead, the second section of the book gives quite lengthy descriptions of each type in turn. The authors give equal value to them all, reminding us that each type has a healthy and unhealthy variation, and many stages in between. As we grow more healthy, we move towards not just one other type (as is standard in the theory) but are able to embrace positive aspects of them all. 

I read one chapter per day in this section. Each one is between fifteen and twenty pages, and while the writing is good, it’s quite heavy-going. I'm not sure if this is because it was translated from its original German; it doesn't read like a translation, but it's possible that it was made more complex than the original writing. Or maybe the authors write this way. 

I tried to put aside my preconceived ideas about my Enneagram type, although I recognised some of my close friends and relatives in some of the types, as I read. I did, for a while, wonder if I might be a Five, when I reached that chapter. I certainly value my own space, and don’t like it being invaded unexpectedly. I collect books, too, and read a lot about any topic that interests me.

But my reactions to these parts of the ‘Five’ chapter were almost positive. It wasn’t until I reached the ‘Nine’ chapter that I found myself struck to the core, with almost every sentence. It was as if the authors could see into my depths. There’s no question about it: Nine is my type.

The third part of the book is more general again, and more overtly Christian in content. It looks at what it meant to repent, and to be healed, and to grow. It looks at Jesus, and how he incorporated the best of all the nine types, and it - briefly - looks at prayer. Finally there’s a ‘sermon’ for Christmas, related to the Enneagram, and some perspectives by a different author.

I would definitely recommend this if you’re concerned about the background and use of the Enneagram, or if you’re familiar with it, and would like confirmation of your type. I don’t think I would suggest that this could be a good introduction, however, unless you’re an academic or theologian who likes lengthy and sometimes heavy-going descriptions. 

Having said that, it’s one of the first books I read on the topic; and it could certainly be skimmed, although I think I’ve gained more from this read, after knowing the system for a couple of decades, than I did when I was new to it.

For a simpler guide to the Enneagram from a Christian point of view, I would recommend 'Full face to God' by David Mahon, if you can get hold of it. 

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