First things first

The Enneagram is a tool for self-discovery and self-knowledge, nothing else, and is to be used as such - not to be mistaken for a magical short-cut to spiritual enlightenment. 

I am specific on purpose : you will always meet people from the religious world who will tell you that using the Enneagram as a spiritual tool is wrong. Indeed they are right, completely right... The thing is that nobody serious in the Enneagram world ever pretended the Enneagram was to be used as a spiritual tool, because that's not what it is. It is a self-knowledge tool. And that is how the Enneagram was taught to me, and how I teach it.

I guess the confusion comes from the fact that self-knowledge leads to true spirituality, a spirituality anchored in reality, the reality of your own life.

About religion

A religion is a human institution based on scriptures and a long oral tradition, initiated by a people to perpetuate a revelation or the teaching legacy of a "Master" (Lao Tseu, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed...).

The purpose of a religion is to create and maintain a link between Man and God. And the purpose of this link or relationship with a divine principle is to lead Man towards his full realization or enlightenment. 

By all means, a religion is not an end in itself, it is only a mean, and the end is human spiritual enlightenment.

Ramana Maharshi, a great Eastern spiritual Master (20th century) said that there are two paths leading to Enlightenment : Enquire who I am? or Surrender. 

Surrender or submit to the divine providence and accept the will of God is the essence of the religious attitude.

ABOUT THE ENNEAGRAM

Well, it is clear that the Enneagram is a tool that serves the second way, "Enquire who I am". My own experience is that this second way is a highway leading to the first way : Surrender.

Don Riso says that studying and using the Enneagram on its own is limited :

"The momentum of the Ego is too great, and it cannot be transformed without bringing an ever greater force to bear upon it: the awareness that comes from a 

spiritual perspective on ourselves and our lives.” Don Riso

Well, it is clear that the Enneagram is a tool that serves the second way, "Enquire who I am". My own experience is that this second way is a highway leading to the first way : Surrender.

Don Riso says that studying and using the Enneagram on its own is limited :

"The momentum of the Ego is too great, and it cannot be transformed without bringing an ever greater force to bear upon it: the awareness that comes from a 

spiritual perspective on ourselves and our lives.” Don Riso