Stages of Faith is a tremendously influential book that was published in 1981. The paperback is a mere $7.99 at Amazon.com. The author, James W. Fowler, was both a theologian and a United Methodist minister (he died in 2005, so he predated much of the controversy in which the United Methodists are embroiled). He was Professor of Theology and Human Development at Emory University.
If you haven't read the book, it would be food for thought and possibly a real eye-opener. It can help explain why discussions on forums such as these so often descend into fussin' and feudin' and ad hominem attacks.
On the basis of extensive interviews, Foster documents six stages of faith, from infantile to something like enlightened sage. He assigns these to different age ranges, although this isn't really how it works. An individual may remain at one of the early stages all of his or her life or may evolve to one of the later stages at a fairly early age.
The point is not that any particular stage is "better," although Fowler clearly believes the later stages are more mature and thoughtful. One could be a perfectly good Christian while never advancing beyond the third stage - which is, in fact, precisely where many believers land.
The point is that the stages are very different, with different perspectives. Someone at stage three is likely to feel threatened by the perspective of someone at stage five or six. Those at stage five or six, on the other hand, may be hard-pressed not to regard those at stage two or three as being spiritually inferior. Those at stage two or three may be inclined to dispute with others at stage two or three precisely because of the nature of these stages. (We probably all tend to overestimate our own level of spiritual development.)
Anyway, it's a book worth reading that may help you understand what is going on when Christians seem to be curiously prone to fussin' and feudin' with other Christians. It may even shed light on your own spirituality.
If you haven't read the book, it would be food for thought and possibly a real eye-opener. It can help explain why discussions on forums such as these so often descend into fussin' and feudin' and ad hominem attacks.
On the basis of extensive interviews, Foster documents six stages of faith, from infantile to something like enlightened sage. He assigns these to different age ranges, although this isn't really how it works. An individual may remain at one of the early stages all of his or her life or may evolve to one of the later stages at a fairly early age.
The point is not that any particular stage is "better," although Fowler clearly believes the later stages are more mature and thoughtful. One could be a perfectly good Christian while never advancing beyond the third stage - which is, in fact, precisely where many believers land.
The point is that the stages are very different, with different perspectives. Someone at stage three is likely to feel threatened by the perspective of someone at stage five or six. Those at stage five or six, on the other hand, may be hard-pressed not to regard those at stage two or three as being spiritually inferior. Those at stage two or three may be inclined to dispute with others at stage two or three precisely because of the nature of these stages. (We probably all tend to overestimate our own level of spiritual development.)
Anyway, it's a book worth reading that may help you understand what is going on when Christians seem to be curiously prone to fussin' and feudin' with other Christians. It may even shed light on your own spirituality.
