Review Part III FAITH & Fowler

7. Fowler’s Stages of Faith Development

James Fowler

• Famous for creating a theory of Faith Development.

Stage One: Stage One: Intuitive/Projective Intuitive/Projective Faith Faith

ages 2 – 7ages 2 – 7 Trust placed in what a Trust placed in what a

child sees and hears from child sees and hears from parents or guardians.parents or guardians.

A child A child absorbsabsorbs all the all the taboos and taboos and beliefsbeliefs from from the family around them the family around them

mirrors them back.mirrors them back.

. .

Stage Two: Mythic/Literal Faith

or the Literalist

Ages 8 – Adolescence , but could last a lifetime

NARRATIVE STAGE – Stories with great meaning.

But all taken LITERALLY

See Adam and Eve as an historical story.

Simple explanations give comfort!

Stage Three: Synthetic/Conventional Stage Three: Synthetic/Conventional FaithFaith

AdolescenceAdolescence Most people never get beyond this stage!Most people never get beyond this stage!

Trust is shifted from stories to being part of a Trust is shifted from stories to being part of a groupgroup

Approval is importantApproval is important.. Start to see contradictions but questions are Start to see contradictions but questions are

silenced and conformity wins. silenced and conformity wins.

God is seen as an extension of interpersonal God is seen as an extension of interpersonal relationships.. Parent, friend, relationships.. Parent, friend, girlfriend/boyfriend.girlfriend/boyfriend.

Stage Four: Individuative/Reflective Faith- the Searcher

• Early as age 17, but usually 30s or 40s• Begin to develop own spiritual beliefs (no

longer rely on others)• Authority shifts from an external source to

authority within oneself. • Working out one’s own path.• Nothing is certain but my own existence.

– One can become disillusioned. (not a comfortable place to be)

Nihilism

• An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.

• A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

Stage Five: Conjunctive Faith-Stage Five: Conjunctive Faith- the Seerthe Seer

People usually enter Stage Five People usually enter Stage Five around age 35 or 40around age 35 or 40 (but could happen (but could happen earlier, later, or NEVER)earlier, later, or NEVER)

We realize absolute answers cannot We realize absolute answers cannot be found and starts to trust “the be found and starts to trust “the mystery.”mystery.”

Accept new views – have higher level Accept new views – have higher level of relationships.of relationships.

Begins the total surrender to the Begins the total surrender to the DivineDivine

Stage Six: Universalizing Faith Stage Six: Universalizing Faith EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• Few people reachFew people reach!!• Called Universalizing faith Called Universalizing faith

because one becomes an because one becomes an activist activist for the universe.for the universe.

• Person begins to live in the Person begins to live in the “Kingdom of God”“Kingdom of God”

• We are no longer the center of We are no longer the center of the universethe universe

• Have Have radical commitment to radical commitment to social justicesocial justice

Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, & Mother TheresaKing, & Mother Theresa

Characteristics of Stage 6Characteristics of Stage 61.1. Deny self for total unity with God Deny self for total unity with God 2.2. No longer concerned about the normal ego No longer concerned about the normal ego

needs of survival and security,needs of survival and security,3.3. often involves nonviolent suffering often involves nonviolent suffering 4.4. Everything matters, yet without attachment.Everything matters, yet without attachment.5.5. Life is both loved fully and held loosely. Life is both loved fully and held loosely.