I have a vague recollection of doing a thread on this on the old Tweb, (You remember, the popular one), but I thought I might put it before you again.
In 1981 James Fowler PhD published 'Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning', which appeared in 1981. In it, he proposed that just like cognition and moral development, spirituality also develops through a series of discernible stages. In brief his stages are:
These are all taken from here Yes, I know it's Wiki, but in thios case a reasonable summation of his book which I have actually read.)
What's interesting, is that people can get 'stuck' in stages for various reasons. Stage 2 people for example are very rule governed. Their God is a kind of cosmic policeman. Legalism is their natural state. It's said that not many people get to stage 5 or 6.
In EVERY religion you'll find people of most stages. I think people who are Stage 5 Christians will have a better conversation with a Stage 5 Buddhist than they will with a stage 2 Christian.
I'd be interested in your thoughts. See here for a good summary chart.
This is based on a similar idea and has a quiz. I know you love quizzes.
In 1981 James Fowler PhD published 'Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning', which appeared in 1981. In it, he proposed that just like cognition and moral development, spirituality also develops through a series of discernible stages. In brief his stages are:
Stage 0 – "Primal or Undifferentiated" faith (birth to 2 years), is characterized by an early learning of the safety of their environment (i.e. warm, safe and secure vs. hurt, neglect and abuse). If consistent nurture is experienced, one will develop a sense of trust and safety about the universe and the divine. Conversely, negative experiences will cause one to develop distrust with the universe and the divine. Transition to the next stage begins with integration of thought and languages which facilitates the use of symbols in speech and play.
Stage 1 – "Intuitive-Projective" faith (ages of three to seven), is characterized by the psyche's unprotected exposure to the Unconscious, and marked by a relative fluidity of thought patterns. Religion is learned mainly through experiences, stories, images, and the people that one comes in contact with.
Stage 2 – "Mythic-Literal" faith (mostly in school children), stage two persons have a strong belief in the justice and reciprocity of the universe, and their deities are almost always anthropomorphic. During this time metaphors and symbolic language are often misunderstood and are taken literally.
Stage 3 – "Synthetic-Conventional" faith (arising in adolescence; aged 12 to adulthood) characterized by conformity to religious authority and the development of a personal identity. Any conflicts with one's beliefs are ignored at this stage due to the fear of threat from inconsistencies.
Stage 4 – "Individuative-Reflective" faith (usually mid-twenties to late thirties) a stage of angst and struggle. The individual takes personal responsibility for his or her beliefs and feelings. As one is able to reflect on one's own beliefs, there is an openness to a new complexity of faith, but this also increases the awareness of conflicts in one's belief.
Stage 5 – "Conjunctive" faith (mid-life crisis) acknowledges paradox and transcendence relating reality behind the symbols of inherited systems. The individual resolves conflicts from previous stages by a complex understanding of a multidimensional, interdependent "truth" that cannot be explained by any particular statement.
Stage 6 – "Universalizing" faith, or what some might call "enlightenment." The individual would treat any person with compassion as he or she views people as from a universal community, and should be treated with universal principles of love and justice.
What's interesting, is that people can get 'stuck' in stages for various reasons. Stage 2 people for example are very rule governed. Their God is a kind of cosmic policeman. Legalism is their natural state. It's said that not many people get to stage 5 or 6.
In EVERY religion you'll find people of most stages. I think people who are Stage 5 Christians will have a better conversation with a Stage 5 Buddhist than they will with a stage 2 Christian.
I'd be interested in your thoughts. See here for a good summary chart.
This is based on a similar idea and has a quiz. I know you love quizzes.
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