7. Fowlers Stages of Faith DevelopmentSREEKALA.R

James FowlerFamous for creating a theory of Faith Development.

Stage One: Intuitive/Projective Faith

ages 2 7 Trust placed in what a child sees and hears from parents or guardians. A child absorbs all the taboos and beliefs from the family around them mirrors them back.

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First awareness of self egocentric; hard to see other perspectives Birth of Imagination, unrestrained by logical thought Highly imitative stage where children can be powerfully andpermanently influenced by examples, moods, actions and stories ofthe visible faith of primally related adults (parents, etc.) Programs that use wonder & imagination (like Godly Play orCatechesis of the Good Shepherd) are very successful with this age

Stage Two: Mythic/Literal Faith or the Literalist

Ages 8 Adolescence (6-12), but could last a lifetime NARRATIVE STAGE Stories with great meaning. But all taken LITERALLYSee Adam and Eve as an historical story. Simple explanations give comfort!

Transition to this stage happens as the child becomes more capableof concrete operational thinking Can use logic to justify thoughts, but not yet able to think abstractly Fascination with private worlds of fantasy and wonder (ie Narnia,Harry Potter, etc.) although in the perception of this stage, symbolsare one-dimensional and must refer to something specific Story, drama & myth help give coherence to experience tellingtheir story helps discover sense of self and place in the community World based on reciprocal fairness and immanent justice

Stage Three: Synthetic/Conventional Faith

Adolescence (12+)Most people never get beyond this stage!Trust is shifted from stories to being part of a group Approval is important.Start to see contradictions but questions are silenced and conformity wins.

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

Transition often comes when children notice contradictions in stories(ie Genesis creation vs. evolution) leading to questions/reflection Experience of the world extends beyond family Many things compete for attention: family, peers, school, media, etc. Faith must help them synthesize values and conventions toprovide a coherent orientation in the midst of competing ideals Faith as a vehicle for creating a sense of identity and values Many adults get stuck here

Stage Four: Individuative/Reflective Faith- the Searcher ( Late teen to early adult)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 ones own path.Nothing is certain but my own existence.One can become disillusioned. (not a comfortable place to be)

Transition often comes with leaving home emotionally, physicallyor both causing us to examine self, background & values Understand and accept a higher level of commitment to ideals andresponsibilities Intrinsic responsibility (not enforced by others) High degree of self consciousness Sense of self develops outside of specific roles Conceptual meanings transcend Symbols demythologizing stage Capacity for critical reflection on identity

NihilismAn extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.

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

Transition often comes with leaving home emotionally, physicallyor both causing us to examine self, background & values Understand and accept a higher level of commitment to ideals andresponsibilities Intrinsic responsibility (not enforced by others) High degree of self consciousness Sense of self develops outside of specific roles Conceptual meanings transcend Symbols demythologizing stage Capacity for critical reflection on identity

Stage Five: Conjunctive Faith- the Seer

People usually enter Stage Five around age 35 or 40 (but could happen earlier, later, or NEVER) We realize absolute answers cannot be found and starts to trust the mystery.

Accept new views have higher level of relationships.Begins the total surrender to the Divine

Truth is discovered from a variety of viewpoints Second naivet symbols regain their power; can appreciate myth,story, ritual (own and others) because they have grasped, in somemeasure, the depth of reality to which they refer Reclaiming & Reworking ones past Commitment to justice; oriented towards others

Stage Six: Universalizing Faith Enlightenment

Few people reach!Called Universalizing faith because one becomes an activist for the universe. Person begins to live in the Kingdom of GodWe are no longer the center of the universeHave radical commitment to social justice

This stage is rarely achieved Person becomes totally altruistic incarnation of the principles oflove and justice (like Ghandi, Jesus, Mother Teresa, etc.) Feel an integral part of an all-inclusive sense of being. Often more honored or revered after their death

Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, & Mother TheresaCharacteristics of Stage 6Deny self for total unity with God No longer concerned about the normal ego needs of survival and security,often involves nonviolent suffering Everything matters, yet without attachment.Life is both loved fully and held loosely.