Fowler’s Stages of Faith
January 26, 2010I have just purchased a copy of Fowler’s Stages of Faith I’m awaiting it’s delivery, I hope to begin writing a couple of post’s on it, I’m particularly interested in transitioning from stage 4 to stage 5. As stage four resonates with my earlier post of feeling tossed to & fro by every wind of doctrine.
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I have only listened to John’s podcasts on this issue. I am intrigued but I also sense that the common experience of stage 4 should be something that remains with us. I have not read the book and so should be careful about my judgments and so I will be interested in your posts on it.
I’m just listening to John’s podcast now, I didn’t know it existed so it might well help, even though I haven’t received the book yet.
“I also sense that the common experience of stage 4 should be something that remains with us.”
Do you mean that you feel we will never leave stage 4 behind?
Yes. I enjoy stage 4. But I have not experienced as an unravelling like some have. I think that the tension between contradictory ideas in spiritually powerful and I sense that there are certain questions and problems that I will never have adequate answers to and thus am required to trust, or have faith in, God. That is a choice I make. I feel therefore that my version of stage 4 has not been a shocking experience.
btw, in John’s podcast I love the stories of the men who go to the Bishop (i think it is tom kimbal and dan wotherspoon).
Also he has recently done something with Mormon Expressions.
That’s really interesting, your experience sounds to me as a new dimension to Fowler’s stage 4. With my rudimentary understanding of Fowler’s stage theory “unravelling” almost defines stage 4. perhaps there is a social factor to dealing with stage 4, ie from what I understand many undergoing stage 4 would feel isolated, however being exposed to a support structure that has non orthodox views may alleviate the pain full affects of stage 4(immunisation).
Perhaps. I have had parents who are both open and aware of all (well the major ones – I am not anyone is aware of all of them) the difficulties in the Church. We talk alot and it is nice to have that. I have also been able to find people who tolerate my sometimes obnoxious questioning. However I would also say that my unravelling has been in stages and also has been centered on a core. I have retained the core parts of my faith even though they may have changed slightly, the foundation is still there.
The other possibility is that I am not in stage 4 at all and just in a nuanced version of stage 3.