Illini Christian Faculty and Staff Spiritual Intelligence

February 18, 1999

Part 1 - Multiple Intelligence Theory (Multiple Intelligences, Howard Gardner; MI in the Classroom, Thomas Armstrong) Overlapping layers that we all possess in greater or lesser amounts: Intelligence Core Components (high end-states) 1. Linguistic Sensitivity to sounds, structure, meanings and functions of words and language (writer, orator) 2. Logical-Mathematical Sensitivity to, and capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns; ability to handle long chains of reasoning (scientist, mathematician) 3. Spatial Capacity to perceive the visual-spatial world accurately and to perform transformations on ones initial perceptions (artist, architect) 4. Bodily-Kinesthetic Ability to control ones body movements and to handle objects skillfully (athlete, dancer, sculptor, surgeon) 5. Musical Ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre; appreciation of the forms of musical expressiveness (composer, performer) 6. Interpersonal Capacity to discern and respond appropriately to the moods, temperaments, motivations, and desires of other people (counselor, political leader) 7. Intrapersonal Access to ones own feeling life and the ability to discriminate among ones emotions; knowledge of ones own strengths and weaknesses (psychotherapist, religious leader) 8. Naturalistic Ability to perceive the environment and ecosystems;

knowledge of relationships in nature (naturalist, environmentalist) Part 2 - Emotional and Social Intelligence (Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman; also Salovey and Mayer) A combination of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence (7 and 8 above), including: self-awareness, personal decision making, managing feelings, handling stress, empathy, communications, self-disclosure, insight, self-acceptance, personal responsibility, assertiveness, group dynamics, conflict resolution Goleman asserts that EQ is more important than IQ for success in business and relationships, and that EQ can be increased. Part 3 - Spiritual Intelligence Another possible category with the following characteristics: 1. Awareness of otherness (Flatland, A Testament of Devotion) 2. Wonder, awe, a sense of the numinous (astronomy, microbiology, cosmology) 3. Wisdom (proverbs, sages) 4. Perspective, awareness, ability to listen: Be still and know that I am God. (prophets) 5. Comfort with chaos, dichotomy, paradox (counter to conventional wisdom) 6. Commitment, dedication, faithA case study in spiritual intelligence: A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly, some quotes: There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings. (35) Facts remain facts, when brought into the Presence in the deeper level, but their value, their significance, is wholly realigned. Much apparent wheat becomes utter chaff, and some chaff becomes wheat. (36) Logic finds, beneath every system of thought, some basic assumptions or postulates from

which all other items of belief are derived. ... Holy Fellowship reaches behind these intellectual frames to the immediacy of experience in God, and seeks contact in this fountain head of real, dynamic connectedness. (84) Nor do all members share equally in spiritual discernment, but upon some falls more clearly the revealing light of His guiding will. (85) Part 4 - Comparison of Multiple, Emotional, and Spiritual Intelligences Commonalities 1. Each person has some of each, and the intelligences can be thought of as overlapping layers. 2. Individuals possess different inherent amounts of each intelligence. 3. Each intelligence can be developed further (ie., what may be more important than labeling is how to be intelligent, and each suggest that intelligence can be increased). Differences 1. SI deals extensively with an other (ie., not only self science). 2. SI seems to overlap all other layers more extensively than any other intelligences, e.g. MI: word => flesh music moves the spirit governing laws kindred spirits, fellowship creation of universe personal soul word => flesh spirits in nature, esp. Native Americans. 3. Assessment of SI is probably the most subjective of the intelligences. Though Kelly notes, Is religion subjective? Nay, its soul is in objectivity, in an Other whose Life is our true life, whose Love is our love, whose Joy is our joy, whose Peace is our peace, whose burdens are our burdens, whose Will is our will. (57) Part 5 - Applications Thinking about intelligences 1. helps explain and understand ourselves and others 2. offers hope, we can develop/increase our intelligence

3. builds linkages to others, bonds of commonality and appreciation of differences 4. builds unifying concept/structure for self - in the overlapping nature of the intelligences - in the unifying nature of spiritual intelligence: all becomes part of SI Summary A progression: MI: talents, gifts EI: character, maturity SI: wisdom, knowing God Gardners theory of multiple intelligences is changing our concept of individual competence. Goleman asserts that it is emotional intelligence that explains success. Perhaps spiritual intelligence holds the promise or hope for fulfillment. Reactions, comments, and suggestions are welcome: Bruce Litchfield, 333-9525, b-litch@uiuc.edu