6 STAGES OF FAITH JAMES FOWLER Stage 1

6 STAGES OF FAITH JAMES FOWLER

Stage 1 - Imaginative Faith (birth to 7 years) Characteristics: �Positive images are healthy �Friendly, welcoming God like dependable parent �Fearful 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 true �God rewards and punishes �bargaining 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 beliefs �time of tension sometimes with friends, family and Church leaders searching for truth �answers not always clear-cut (there are lots of gray areas)

Stage 5 – Mystical Faith (age is no longer a factor) Characteristics: �communion with God �awareness of God’s inner presence �recognition of community of all people �challenge and improve structure �belief 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 justice �Jesus, 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.