Introvertion a sin?

[Ahimsa]

If introversion is a sin, then, as Luther said, “Sin boldly!”

 

[m134e5]

springbreeze:

It is not a matter of being locked in their own world, they are called to different vocations to others which is a life of solitude and inward reflection which if spent enough time on; inward reflection eventually reaches out to God again.

I was not refering to inward reflection. I was referring to people who don’t want to be more outgoing, because they think everyone is a waste of time to them. (I used to be this way, and I have relatives who sure act like they think this way)

 

[Mike_Olson]

puzzleannie:

clown Masses and communion veils?

WHAT you can have clowns come to your MASS? Do they bring balloons and do magic tricks too?

 

[Mike_Olson]

John Russell Jr:

From, Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A Kempis.
The Twentieth Chapter
The Love of Solitude and Silence

Thanks so much for the book. I think I am going to get a copy or see if I can find it on the internet and give it a read.

 

[goravens]

All my life I’ve been fairly shy and introverted - usually more open when around people I know well or in a “comfort zone.” For me, there’s a little bit of guilt there for being introverted, mostly for all the many times someone has said to me “you’re so quiet!” (No one would ever say “you’re so loud!”) Maybe that’s part of what you’re thinking of too; I don’t know. For me, it can be tiring sometimes to have a lengthy conversation with a group of people I don’t know well. It takes a lot of effort for me to go against that natural, more contemplative nature but it’s important and necessary at times. Just means I have to work a little harder Being quiet can be misunderstood as snobby, rude, etc. sometimes by others so there can be something of a “stigma” to it in my mind.

On the other hand, I’ve greatly come to embrace the many positives that extroverts miss out on. Being a good listener, intuitive, calm in crisis, more naturally prayerful, etc. are some of the best things about being an introvert for me. And, I think there’s something important in the fact many religious orders have their members take an ordinary vow of silence, meaning they won’t talk unnecessarily. Our church has always respected and seen the importance of quiet and solitary time as a way to cultivate closeness to Christ and growth in holiness. Your personality traits are unique to you, no matter what they are, and can be used for the greater glory of God.

 

[SeekerJen]

Benedictus:

No, being an introvert is not a sin at all.

Personally, I’d hate to be one of those people who loves to hear himself talk, pretends to be friends with everyone in the world, and just won’t shut up.

The most irritating part is that those people all think that everyone is or should be just like them. Drives me nuts. I like my quiet time in my head, don’t want to tell everyone all of my business, nor am I self-important enough to think they would want to hear it.

 

[turboEDvo]

Its those know it all extroverts that will get you into trouble

For personal experience, I can vouch for the truth of that statement. :dancing:

I am an extrovert, for sure (though I do have some moments where there is only one person in the world who can get me open up, and I don’t claim to know it all). I am not particularly shy (gross understatement of the century) and I like people who are chatty, loud, and a bit nuts like me. However, one of my good friends is an introvert, and I really like him better than most of my other friends because he is not busy trying to impress others. He has this air about him that I like, and I really trust him to be true and there if I need him. So, being an introvert has its positives. It’s not a sin, but rather a gift to be used properly (and just about anything can be made a sin, if not used properly)

Eamon

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Here is a link for the book. You can read it or listen to it- free.
ccel.org/

Mike_Olson:

Thanks so much for the book. I think I am going to get a copy or see if I can find it on the internet and give it a read.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

Benedictus:

No, being an introvert is not a sin at all.

Personally, I’d hate to be one of those people who loves to hear himself talk, pretends to be friends with everyone in the world, and just won’t shut up.

Ouch!

I hope that’s not your opinion of all extroverts. Extroversion is definied in the dictionary as “the act, state, or habit of being predominantly concerned with and obtaining gratification from what is outside the self.” An extrovert is not a selfish person who talks a lot. Instead, the person seeks relationships and things outside the self where an introvert will look inward more of the time.

 

[contemplative]

I love this question. Being either an introvert or extrovert can’t be a sin. These are personality traits.

Here is a little something extra I would like to share. My daughter the psychology student had me take an online personality test in which classified me as an introvert (no surprise). After we both had taken the test we had the bright idea to take the test again and answer the questions together the way we thought Jesus would answer them. This was fun to do. The Jesus we know is definately an extrovert! Jesus scores extremely high in all the possible positve personality categories except one…agreeability! The Jesus we know rates extremely low on agreeability!

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

ricren:

Is introvertion a vice to be overcome or is it a natural temperment to be respected? Does anyone have any resources from a faith perspective to support the answer to this question?

It’s no more a sin that having black hair - some people are introverts by temperament, others are natural extroverts.​

Introversion as the word is used in discussions of prayer is not quite the same thing - it carries no moral overtones there either. ##

 

[geemom]

It all depends on whom one asks.
Take my ultra responsible extraverted in-laws and their friends in relation to my husband and I who are definite introverts who also happen to be last borns. Is it selfish to think of oneself in relation to the world that one lives in including ones social world of family, friends and community life? My mother in law seems to think so. Also I read somewhere that our American society tends to highly favor the extraverted and if your not then one frequently gets the message of “there gots ta be something a wrong with ya’ll if yer not a good ol extravert” type opinion.
I personally do not believe that introversion is a sin. It only takes a few readings of stories, biographies and autobiographies of various saints to see that indeed there are saints of many personality types and thus ways in which to know love and serve God. I think that one must utilize one’s personality strengths and to be aware of one’s personality weaknesses to know in which ways to best serve God and his people. One must always seek guidance from God the father Christ the son and the Holy Spirit and the intercession of God’s saints as to what course to take in each situation. Guidance can come in the form of personal inspiration tempered by wisdom and trustworthy sources such as people, books and so forth. I am often tempted to devalue myself because of my tendencies toward introversion. Whoa! but not just introversion, but the footloose and fancy free classification of Introverted Sensing Feeling and Perceptive tendency to relate to the world around me. Even though extraversion is favored in the world we live in, we must ask God for the strength to be ourselves but always in relation to God and his precepts. I need to also ask the good Lord to please help me to see how I fit into everything , and what is my place and does it have significant value? To I guess it doesn’t hurt once in a great while to walk in the shoes of the extravert and them in the shoes of an introvert.

 

[strugglingalong]

Thanks for all the interesting comments.

Just to clarify, I’m not out to categorize a whole group of people as sinful. I just have trouble describing what I’m trying to work through and introversion is the best name I can give it.

I’m frankly happy to see so much support for the idea that introversion is not sinful. But I’m concerned that I did not fully get across my question. I guess I’m wondering more specifically if the tendency to focus on self and look inward that someone who would be perceived as introverted might have is sinful. If a person feels that they would prefer to spend more time quietly alone than out in the community - is that truly an acceptable personality trait. Or is it a selfish tendency that leads to a lack of charity. If that introverted person dreads going out and doing face to face things with others and needs a great deal of alone time before and after to prepare and console themselves after social interaction, that can limit the amount of time that person is available to offer themselves to others. Is this perceived need to be alone to “recover” and “prepare” a selfish tendency that should be worked on to be overcome, or is it a truly God given temperment whose limitations should be respected.

I agree that it appears there have been many saints who seem to be introverted. I’ve been thinking a lot about Pope JP II lately, about how he was so available to everyone. Now it might just be that he was an extrovert who worked within his God given temperment. I don’t know. But could it be that an introvert would be asked by God to give up that “recover” and “prepare” time to be more available to the people around them in need. Would this be considered pouring themselves out for God? Would reserving their energy be considered a selfishness?

Still curious and looking to see what people think. Thanks!

God Bless.

Each temperament has their own strengths and weaknesses. This work by Fr. Hock is really, really good in this regard: angelicum.net/html/four_temperaments.html He explains, from a spiritual point of view, the good and bad of each temperament. It is true that many Saints, but also many heretics, were melancholics.

The danger of the introvert, or melancholic, I think, is to look into themselves too much, to focus on their feelings and experiences too much to the neglect of others - just as the danger of the extrovert, or sanguine, is to focus on others too much in a way seeking to satisfy their selfish desire to be seen or appreciated or focused upon.

Honestly, I prefer being an introvert and melancholic although I find the struggles particularly difficult. It’s great to be so introspective and to think such deep thoughts; and I think it is that depth and interiority that has made so many Saints. We all need a strong interior life and introverts are more disposed to it. It is certainly no sin but the introvert does need to work on charity and care for others outside of themselves too.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[drforjc]

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