FAQ: The Enneagram and Christianity
Is the Enneagram a sin? Christians are genuinely divided. Those who view its origins as demonic argue that using it amounts to engaging with occult wisdom, which Scripture forbids. Others treat it as a neutral tool that can be applied carefully. Perry lands firmly in the first camp.
What exactly did Jackie Hill Perry say? In a January 2023 Instagram story, Perry called the Enneagram “legitimately doctrines of demons, divination, witchcraft.” She cited automatic writing and Ichazo’s claimed revelation from a non-biblical entity, and apologized publicly for previously promoting it.
Who created the Enneagram? Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo developed the modern Enneagram of Personality in the 20th century. Ichazo said a spiritual entity revealed the framework to him while in an altered state. Naranjo expanded it through automatic writing. Neither had a Christian background or intent.
Can Christians use the Enneagram? Some leaders say yes, if it’s used purely as description with no spiritual weight attached. Perry and others say no, arguing you cannot cleanly separate the tool from the foundation it was built on, and that Scripture provides everything a believer needs for genuine self-knowledge.
What does automatic writing have to do with any of this? Naranjo credited automatic writing as a method he used to develop the nine types, a practice where a spiritual force is believed to guide the writer. Christian theology has consistently classified this as divination, a category Scripture explicitly condemns.
