Do You Find Faith Development Theories Helpful

Of the two, I find the second one more descriptive of my own journey than the first one. I found Fowler’s very academic, and his description of the phases not intuitive.

We even had discussion here to try to decipher what Fowler meant, and people all had different conclusions.

I think the second model you provided above is much better, although I feel his nine stages are too much — he resorts to “further development” of the same phase which drags out the phases. I feel as though I’m in phase 9 when I read it — and yes, I went through the anger and resentment. I guess I still have it, but I identify with Stage 9 at the same time. It’s almost as if a person’s spirit flows through a pipe, and at each phase, picks up residue from certain early positions in the pipe, that stay with him or her until the very end.

The one thing I disagree with in the second model is the phase in which he presents three possible outcomes, one of which implies you need counseling. Not sure if we all have those specific three outcomes. As an academic, I’d like to see some research on the phases to see if they actually exist on a larger scale. In my own case, I identify with much of the language he uses though.

While I had heard of Fowler’s stages early on in my own transition, I didn’t actually research it until I was somewhere between stages 4 and 5. I’m actually still somewhere between there, I think, but much more 5 than 4. I had not heard of Perry’s work before. I think there is value in both of these, especially in relating to experience to others. I find that those who have not experienced a faith crisis/transition have difficulty understanding the process. Referencing Fowler’s work (because that is what I have used) seems to help those individuals gain some insight because it’s likely they have some experience that they perhaps haven’t recognized – most church leaders, for example, realize they are not stage one but at one time probably were. So, yes, I find them useful, however I’m not sure they should be used as individual measuring sticks only because it’s sometimes unclear which stage one is actually in, or in other words the stages are not necessarily as clear cut as they appear at first glance.

I find them helpful mostly because they help me realize that what I’m going through is normal and that there is a better place ahead.

+1 to Ray & Daeruin. When I came across the concept of the Collapse of the Assuptive World it was a Godsend.

I felt very alone, misunderstood, and even scared that my internal turmoil might be a divine test that I was failing.

Reading about this allowed me to look at it from a wider perspective. To know that this process is normal and even somewhat expected was invaluable.

I’ve never been exposed to Perry’s Scheme of Ethical and Cognitive Development before. It’s similar to Fowler’s Stages of Faith in that I can see aspects of myself in several positions/stages but I can’t quite place myself entirely into any one specific category. At any point in time what position or stage I think I’m in depends largely on the situation or subject.

I think those studies are absolutely helpful. It’s like watching a video in middle school about “Our Changing Bodies” but more in reference to our spiritual/psychological bodies than our physical bodies.

One of the benefits in those studies is that they outline various strengths and pitfalls of each phase. I also find the information about how people in one stage view people in another stage to be very helpful.

I don’t really find them helpful except to realize that what I’m going through is common.