Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning

This is a classic! The scholarship is readily apparent. Whether or not you agree with the stages described in this book, you will certainly be challenged to THINK and THAT makes all the difference!

The fact that Fowler separates "Faith" from religion is CRITICAL, and will, I will bet, trip up many readers that are already 'prejudiced' to think in a particular way. But stick with the book to the end and make up your mind AFTER you have read it cover-to-cover and you will be rewarded with new perspective that transcends the "religious categories" to which faith is often related.

This book helps one develop an understanding that one's "faith" development most often goes hand-in-hand with "cognitive" development, though one may be "arrested" show more at any stage in faith development by NOT experiencing "crises" that challenge one's previous stage that would cause most people to re-think their present narrow belief system and incorporate new ideas. Often, particular religious or secular organizations and institutions limit one's experience of such crises by limiting one's exposure to the ideas, struggles and opinions of others that would normally cause one to have to struggle with and widen one's beliefs to make sense of the world.

This book is much more than what I can summarize simply in such few sentences; that is why it is very worthwhile reading! show less

This book was required reading in the education program at Princeton Theological Seminary. It contains a helpful model of faith development based on educational psychology which informs the activities effective for students of various ages in religious education.

Does life have meaning or purpose? When you are most discouraged, what gets you up in he morning to return to the struggle? When and where do you experience wonder,awe, or ecstasy?

Super bland and outdated.

There is no concept of God in a "Faith". [251] Each "stage" of faith "has the potential for wholeness, grace and integrity and for strengths sufficient for either life's blows or blessings." [274]. Conversion as a recapitulation of previous stages in the life/faith journey. [290] Brings to mind the author's quote of Luke 18:8: "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" [292]