JAMES FOWLER

6 STAGES OF FAITH

Stage 1 - Imaginative Faith (birth to 7 years)

Characteristics:Positive images are

healthyFriendly, welcoming God

like dependable parentFearful images are

dangerous: children associate God the Father with their father who may be nice or NOT nice

Stage 2 - Literal faith (7-early teens)

Characteristics:storytelling (pass on

faith story)believed as literally or

historically trueGod rewards and

punishesbargaining stage, e.g.

exams, illness. etc.

Stage 3 - Group Faith (teens to mid-20’s)

Characteristics:*group influence*conform to values and expectations of group*unquestioning belief of group view*can discourage personal responsibility

Stage 4 - Personal Faith (mid-20’s and older)

Characteristics:personal responsibility for beliefstime of tension sometimes with friends,

family and Church leaders searching for truthanswers not always clear-cut (there are lots

of gray areas)

Stage 5 – Mystical Faith (age is no longer a factor)

Characteristics:communion with Godawareness of God’s inner presencerecognition of community of all peoplechallenge and improve structurebelief that “God is with me at all times

therefore life is intrinsically holy by nature”most of us can do get to this level

Stage 6 - Sacrificial Faith

Characteristics:identification with truth and

justiceJesus, Gandhi, Romero, etc.radical commitment with no

regard for personal status or security

not many people get here but there may be traces in us, e.g. parent attitudes.