DR. DAN MONTGOMERY ON "THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES"

I was privileged to meet and talk with Germaine Greer, a leader of the 1970’s feminist movement and author of The Female Eunuch, after a speech she gave when I was about 35 years old. At that time I was a Psychology Professor at Pepperdine University—and  a Psychologist. 

GERMAINE GREER

Germaine Greer was one of a triumvirate that included Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique:

BETTY FRIEDAN

 and Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. Magazine and author of Life on the Road:

GLORIA STEINEM

I talked with Germaine Greer after she had delivered a brilliant speech on the feminist position concerning the difficulties inherent in communication and relationships between men and women.

I responded: “I have an overarching theory of what I think happens between men and women that can put an end to battle of the sexes.”

Germaine's eyes lit up and she guided us to a private corner of the room. "Go ahead, Dr. Dan," she said warmly.

I showed her a diagram of The Self Compass.

THE SELF COMPASS

I explained how, due to factors like testosterone and socialization, men too often get stuck overemphasizing the upper two compass points of the Self Compass: Strength and Assertion. They are left with personality deficiencies of emotional detachment, narcissistic entitlement, and dictatorial control. They become dehumanized Top Dogs who seek to get their way all the time, emotionally wounding millions of women in the process: detached men incapable of loving unions.

Germane nodded affirmatively. "I agree completely. This makes perfect sense."

I continued to explain that women, by contrast, are too often fixated on the Love and Weakness compass points as Underdogs. Overblown Weakness makes them fearful, helpless, avoidant, and easily hurt. Too much Love makes them overly dependent on seeking men's approval to affirm their existence, and busy striving to serve everyone, keep the peace, and make people happy.  

"That describes how I lived the first twenty years of my life!"

"In today’s world," I said, "women are into 'consciousness-raising,' not realizing that they are merely flip-flopping from Underdogs into Top Dogs. This amounts to exchanging one set of personality deficiencies for its opposite. So there is a switch from too much Passivity to too much Aggression with no net gain in human personality wholeness.

"So from your view, Dan, the solution is for men and women alike to develop a whole Self Compass so they can find intimacy with each other," said Germaine.

"Exactly," I said, "And I take my hat off to you as the truly brilliant feminist that you are."

“I must say, Dr. Dan,” Germaine replied, “You have just accurately interpreted my whole life story to me in five minutes. I now see that, according to your SELF COMPASS, I spent my first twenty years as an Underdog and the next ten years as a Top Dog—but with an emptiness inside me. I overdid it by being stuck there, you’re saying. Well, I’m going to start using your COMPASS MODEL and see if I can’t get the peace and joy and love I've always wanted.”

“Carry on and may God bless you.”

“Thank  you,” she said. “I don’t believe in God but I do believe in your Self Compass and I will carry forward with that.” She gave me a hug and we said goodbye.

DR DAN MONTGOMERY

THE SELF COMPASS

Cardinals Praise Dan Montgomery's "God and Your Personality" Book

A Catholic classic in integrating spirituality and depth psychology, the newly revised and expanded  GOD AND YOUR PERSONALITY is now available in both print and e-book versions on Amazon.

God and Your Personality

God wants you to be the best version of "you" in Christ. This means God wants you to develop a whole, integrated, mature personality that reflects all your talents, capabilities, and dreams—while conforming to the image of Christ. Unfortunately, a lot of us fail to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance in actualizing this calling. We fall short of God's purpose for our lives. We get trapped in other people's ideas, our own self-imposed limits and fears.

God and Your Personality is your key to break through those barriers and become the beloved son or daughter of God that you were born to be. Writing with compassion and empathy, but also with a firm grasp of personality problems, Theologian-Psychologist Dan Montgomery gives you a handbook that will enable you to find your own "true north" by utilizing the cutting-edge techniques of Compass Therapy and the Self Compass.

Through learning to steer your life with the Compass points of Love, Assertion, Weakness, and Strength (the LAWS of personality health), you can find a freedom to become the "you" that God calls you to be.

University of Notre Dame 

“I am fascinated by the Self Compass. The growth orientation of the Compass Model offers a transformation mindset that benefits any reader. Well done.” — Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D., Professor of Developmental and Moral Psychology 

Paul Cardinal Poupard, The Vatican 

“God & Your Personality is no New Age influenced waffle clouded in a mystique of blurb, but a useful tool for all those who seek to address personality issues and quench their innate spiritual thirst with the living-water which truly satisfies. Well done!”

Secretary of the Vatican Council for the Evangelization of Peoples

“This book is easy to understand and yet contains a profound understanding of the underlying elements of the human personality. It will surely be of much help to anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of the relationship between psychological and spiritual wholeness.” — Archbishop Robert Sarah

Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Manila 

“God & Your Personality is a noble accomplishment and a gift to individuals who seek wholeness and holiness.”

Erdo Cardinal Peter, Budapest

“God & Your Personality is a fine achievement and wonderful contribution to the healing ministry.”

Stephen Cardinal Kim, Seoul

“I am now reading God & Your Personality and find it very enlightening.”

Roger Cardinal Mahony, Los Angeles

“The Catholic tradition has long affirmed the value of the human sciences in leading us to a deeper understanding of the human person in relation to God and others. Dr. Montgomery’s work, drawing as it does from the riches of psychological investigation and insight, will prove most helpful for those striving to grow and develop in the Christian life.”

Let God and Your Personality be your means 
of healing grace today!

Church Curriculum and Christian Psychology

My wife Kate and I are discovering that a wide range of churches are adopting our Compass Series books for the purposes of adult education and pastoral ministry. 

We see God's hand in this since our life mission seeks to locate Jesus Christ as the dynamic center of spiritual and psychological health. In light of this, we are gratified that Raymond Pendleton, ordained minister, psychologist, and Professor of Pastoral Psychology at Gordon-Conwell Seminary , says, "Dan and Kate Montgomery are making psychology safe for Christianity." 

The Compass Series books provide individuals, pastors, and churches with reliable principles of health psychology  integrated with Christian orthodoxy: namely, the divinity and humanity of Christ, the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture, the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, and the foundational doctrine of one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

We thought you might be interested in a brief description of each book's relevance to church life and Christian formation and discipleship. To view the table of contents and first chapter on Amazon through 'Search Inside the Book,' click on the titles below.

1. The Self Compass: Charting Your Personality In Christ. Used as a book study or adult class text. Includes a study guide. Helps congregants take action in developing healthy personality and relationships. An early chapter provides a Self Compass Inventory, followed by practical growth steps in every chapter for becoming more Christlike. Mike McGuire at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary writes, "In this book you will see yourself, and what you see will make you want to change by drawing closer to God and applying God's Word to your life."

2. Faith Beyond Church Walls: Finding Freedom in Christ. An inspirational how-to-grow-in Christ book for new Christians and those who desire a closer walk with God. Thompson Mathew, Dean of Theology & Missions at Oral Roberts University, writes, "A heart warming conversation and invitation, Dr. Dan Montgomery does not attack the Church nor whitewash her blemishes. His concern is with the individual needing healing and wholeness. His well developed personality theory and some very moving personal stories inspire hope which heals people and their relationships through Jesus Christ."

3. Trusting in the Trinity. An exciting book choice for adult classes, since the Trinity underlies all Christian doctrine, yet remains obscure to most Christians. Clearly identifies the Trinity as the foundation of persons and relationships. Shows the Trinitarian significance of personality, justification by grace, human nature, love, marriage, miracles, prayer, science, psychology, and the Bible. Expositor's Bible Commentary Editor Tremper Longman III writes, "A thoroughly biblical Trinitarian theology that can transform our life and relationships. I recommend it to all who take their faith and their soul seriously." 

4. Christian Personality Theory: A Self Compass for Humanity. Provides a Christian alternative to Freudian, Jungian, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral personality theories. Helps people think in Christian ways about child-rearing, adolescent development, marital communication, and personality transformation. Great for a class that seeks intellectual stimulation as well as spiritual inspiration. Darcia Narvaez at University of Notre Dame writes, "I am fascinated by the Self Compass. The growth orientation of the Compass Model offers a transformation mindset that can benefit any reader. Well done!" 

5. Compass Psychotheology: Where Psychology and Theology Really Meet. For those who are maturing in their Christian faith, this book integrates Old and New Testament Scripture with the best insights from health psychology. Provides pastors and lay ministers with a depth understanding of people's behavioral dynamics, increasing their capability to minister over the lifespan to the complex individual and couple needs of our day. Gordon Fee, Editor, New International Commentary on the New Testament writes, "Dan Montgomery's Christian personality theory is innovative and biblically sound." 

The following books are designed to strengthen pastoral ministers, and Christian professional and lay counselors.

6. Pastoral Counseling and Coaching: Compass Therapy in Churches. This book empowers pastoral resourcefulness in meeting the diverse needs of the contemporary church. The church is a natural home for healing and counseling, and enjoys a long tradition of caring for souls. Case studies show how to excel at the level of counseling you are comfortable with, while referring more complex cases to a licensed therapist. Most of all, it shows how to stay fresh in your ministry without being overwhelmed by people's needs. Abigail Evans at Princeton Theological Seminary says: "Brings God's healing into congregational life."

7. Christian Counseling That Really Works: Compass Therapy in Action. The Church's mission involves preaching the Gospel of Christ as well as implementing it in people's lives. This means using techniques of transformation that help move people forward through the various crises and life passages they encounter. Linda Marten at Dallas Theological Seminary writes: "Through the Compass Therapy framework and many techniques Dan Montgomery utilizes, you can see examples of Christ's love coming alive in the counseling session. I appreciate his insights and focus on healing the whole person (mind, body, spirit, and emotions). This is what good Christian counseling looks like!"