By: Jenna Sommer

 1972 to 1981, he conducted 359 interviews with respondents ranging from 3.5 to 84 years of age.  Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest For Meaning  Influenced by Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg

 Infancy & Undifferentiated  Stage 1- Intuitive-Projective  Stage 2- Mythical-Literal  Stage 3- Synthetic-Conventional  Stage 4- Individuating-Reflexive  Stage 5- Paradoxical-Consolidative  Stage 6- Universalizing

1) Do high school students have more mature faith if they choose it themselves? 2) Do high school students have a sense of the purpose of life? 3) If religion is forced on students from a young age, are they more or less likely to have real authentic faith?

I believe that the high school students will show that their faith is either at stage 3 or 4, but not beyond that. Stage 4 involved individuating one’s faith and the element of choice is typically involved here. One has to own his or her personal faith to get to this stage of mature faith. Stages 1-3 are encompassed in Stage 4.

 11 Guys  14 Girls  14 Sophomores  11 Seniors  Total of 25 Participants (some were taken out)  Nolan Catholic High School

 Is your faith important to you? If so, why?  Describe your faith in three sentences or less. Please describe if you chose to practice your faith or if you feel more obligated by your parents or school.  Was there ever a moment when you felt challenged in your faith? How did you respond- according to your faith and morality or against it? Explain why you responded this way.  Describe a time when God spoke to your directly if you have had this experience.

 Stage 3- mention parents and/or school  Stage ¾- mention parents and/or school but also individual faith in “my life” and “me”  Stage 4- mention individual faith, such as “my life”

NumberGenderAgeStageNotable Comments 0Male15Stage 4summit of my life, daily struggle 1Female16Stage 3/4 I honestly feel more obligated to practice it because of my parents and school but I still understand it’s important. 2Female16Stage 3/4doubt, don't like being told by parents and school 3Female16Stage 3biblical worship way 4Female16Stage 3/4my parents encourage me, way I live my life 5Female16Stage 4 Struggle with family members dying 6Female16Stage 4struggle that I choose 7Female16Stage 4I can practice my faith on my own 8Female16Stage 4so I can get to heaven 9Female16 Stage 3 almost 4My faith is a little bit tricky. 10Female16Stage 4My faith is essential to me. 11Male16Stage 3follow the guidelines, not very important 12Male16Stage 4 I choose to practice, because God is awesome and He helped me through a tough part of my life. 13Male16Stage 3/4 not completely forced, have doubts, big part of my life 14Female17Stage 3/4 Has own faith in God, feel likes the school makes her practice 15Male17Stage 4 Struggle of loosing a parent, mom foundation for faith, faith has helped him

16Female18Stage 3 I feel obligated by the school to pray or to go to Mass. 17Female18Stage 3 I do feel forced (especially by my school) but I do think it is for the best. 18Female18Stage 3school and mother 19Male18Stage 4 faith is heritage, then chose it for himself 20Male18Stage 4I choose my faith 21Male18Stage 3set a beliefs 22Male18Stage 4 I feel more obligated to practice my faith by parents, but after a while, I’ve gotten it into consideration and follow that faith by myself. 23Male18Stage 3/4 My parents do push it on me, but I welcome it. 24Male19Stage 4 I chose to practice my faith, no one is forcing me.

 I regularly attend religious services.  I pray at least once a day.  My parents regularly attend religious services.  I choose to practice my faith.  My parents forced me to go to this school.  My parents force me to go to church and/or youth group.  I go on retreats because I want to, not because it is required by the school.  I feel obligated to pray. I don’t really want to.  I think going to church services is boring and I’d rather be doing something else.  My faith is important to me.  My faith is important to who I am.  My parents’ faith is important to who they are.  It is important for people to have faith.

NumberGenderAgeTotalQues #Average 0Male Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Male Male Male

14Female Male Female Female Female Male Male Male Male Male Male

1Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female Female

0Male Male Male Male Male Male Male Male Male Male Male

 My hypothesis that high school students would be in Stage 3 or 4 of faith was correct. Age and gender did not seem to affect stages of 4. This conclusion is based on the lack of data to conclude this.

1) Do high school students have more mature faith if they choose it themselves?  Strong faith results not from choice, but from challenge. 2) Do high school students have a sense of the purpose of life?  Disregard because the questions did not really ask about the meaning of life directly. 3) If religion is forced on students from a young age, are they more or less likely to have real authentic faith?  Not necessarily, foundation for faith vs. not feeling forced by school or parents

 Gender and high school grade level between sophomores and seniors does not affect stage of faith.  The element of choice may or may not result in mature faith.  A new study should involve research the presence of struggle in one’s faith life.  Example: doubt, loss of family member

 Time  Little variation in answers  Lack of research knowledge  “Grading” faith

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