Abstract:
Drawing on Jungian psychological type theory, the SIFT method of biblical hermeneutics
and liturgical preaching suggests that the reading and proclaiming of scripture reflects the
psychological type preferences of the reader and preacher. This thesis is examined amongst
two samples of curates and training incumbents (N = 23, 27), serving in one Diocese of the
Church of England, who completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Firstly, the narrative
of the shepherds from Luke was discussed by groups organised according to scores on the
perceiving process. In accordance with the theory, sensing types focused on details in the
passage, but could reach no consensus on the larger picture, and intuitive types quickly
identified an imaginative, integrative theme, but showed little interest in the details. Secondly,
the narrative of the massacre of the infants from Matthew was discussed by groups organised
according to scores on the judging process. In accordance with theory, the thinking types
identified and analysed the big themes raised by the passage (political power, theodicy,
obedience), whilst the feeling types placed much more emphasis on the impact that the passage
may have on members of the congregation mourning the death of their child or grandchild.
