Ninth Intelligence

[Tony Mel]

Most of you, I think, are familiar with or have heard about Howard Gardner's theory of the multiple intelligences. This model has revolutionized the way teachers and professionals measure skills and aptitudes. Most people identify 8 kinds of intelligences, all of which we possess to varying degrees--

1. Visual/Spatial
2. Mathematical
3. Naturalistic
4. Verbal
5. Musical
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal
8. Bodily/Kinesthetic

I heard some months ago about a ninth intelligence that Gardner had gained insight into, and yet, did not know what to do about: spiritual (existential) intelligence. People with this kind of intelligence as predominant are able to see life (past, present, future) as a whole, ponder about ultimate issues and wonder about the purpose of existence.

Have you heard about this? How would you explain it?

[Lizzy F.]

Fascinating.

But I thought there were several ways that someone could be "spiritually" gifted. They could be psychic and see the past/future, they could have abilities (empaths, projecting, or other psionics) or they could sense ghosts (or demons, depending on what you believe about this).

If it's just an existential intelligence that thinks about the meaning of life then I'd think of it more as a philosophy than something "spiritual".

It might seem like I'm splitting hairs but I've met people who could see ghosts and who were "spiritually" gifted in other ways but they couldn't even spell "existentialism" if their life depended on it.

And before I get the "well, that's new age creepy stuff" argument thrown at me I'll mention that some of these people were Christians.

[Tony Mel]

(04-19-2011 10:08 PM)Lizzy F. Wrote:  Fascinating.

But I thought there were several ways that someone could be "spiritually" gifted. They could be psychic and see the past/future, they could have abilities (empaths, projecting, or other psionics) or they could sense ghosts (or demons, depending on what you believe about this).

I've never seen one, but I believe there are people who have. Some female warehouse keeper in Greenville, SC makes it a hobby to hunt ghosts.