1. James W. Fowler’s Faith Development Theory
Presented by
Claire Dahlman and John Weiser

2. Biography of James Fowler
Graduate of Duke University and Drew Theological Seminary
Earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University in Religion and Society in 1971, with a focus in ethics and sociology of religion
Pursed post-doctoral studies at the Center for Moral Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Taught at Harvard Divinity School, Boston College and Emory’s Candler School of Theology

3. Biography of James Fowler
His best known book, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Development and the Quest for Meaning is in it’s 40th printing and has been translated into German, Korean, and Portuguese.
Has written or edited 10 other books and more than 60 articles
Has won several awards for contributions to religion, psychiatry, and psychology
Currently a minister in the United Methodist Church

4. In Fowler’s book Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and Quest for Meaning, Fowler outlines the six stages of development he believes a person goes through as they mature from infancy through adulthood.

5. Stage Zero: Undifferentiated Faith
“Pre-stage” refers to growth from infancy through two years old
The infant is developing basic trust with the people providing him care
Toddlers are learning the safety of their environment, ideally safe, secure and nurturing

6. Stage 1: Intuitive-Projective Faith
Focuses on children between the ages of two and six or seven.
The child is egocentric, self-aware, and easily influenced by examples, moods, actions and stories.
The child has difficulty understanding the difference between what is real and what is fantasy

7. Stage 2: Mythic-Literal Faith
Typically focuses on school-age children
The child begins to understand the difference between realities and make believe.
During this stage, the child will have strong beliefs in fairness and justice
Often gives humanistic qualities to the idea of God and believes heaven and hell are actual places.

8. Stage 3: Synthetic-Conventional Faith
Usually occurs during puberty
A person’s experience of the world now extends beyond the family. Many areas demand attention: family, school, work, peers, street society, the media, and perhaps religion.
This is a “conformist” stage. People are aware of their expectations and judgments but choose not to question them in order to stay connected to their peer group.

9. Stage 4: Individuative-Reflective Faith
Typically occurs in people in their mid-twenties but may never occur for some adults
The individual is no longer concerned with the judgments or opinions of their peers
Has an overwhelming sense of self-identity, critical reflection, and world views.
Typically translates symbols into conceptual meanings.
A stage of “demythologizing”

10. Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith
Typically occurs before mid-life.
This is experienced when the person realizes what was suppressed or unrecognized in stage four.
“Complex” stage, and “difficult to adequately describe.”
The person moves away from the idea of either/or and can see both sides of an issue at the same time.
Realizes and understands the rational explanation behind symbols and traditions but re-engages with it anyway.

11. Stage 6: Universalizing Faith
Reached only by a few:
Gandhi
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mother Teresa
“Subversive” meaning their views are very different from those typically found in society.
Amongst all the negative and evil, visions are born of “what life is meant to be”

12. Criticisms of Fowler’s stages
Stage 1: Possible exploitation of child’s imagination for evil purposes.
Could have contradictions between valued authority sources; Catholic church changing the Mass from Latin to English or no longer require abstinence from meat on Friday.
One cannot advance or skip stages i.e. move from stage 2 to stage 5
Stage 6 is nearly impossible to attain.
The study was not published in a journal, so was not peer-reviewed

13. Cognitive Structural Development
Each stage becomes increasingly complex during development from infancy through adulthood.
The person takes in information, perceives their experiences and gives meaning to the information
It is a faith-based theory, spiritual development
Hierarchical, one cannot skip a stage and move on without attaining it first.

14. Applying Fowlers Theory to Higher Education
Student Identity Development
Role of spirituality
Who we are at our core
How we understand ourselves
Understanding religious differences

15. References
Fowler, James W. Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning, New York, Harper-Collins, 1978
Schuh, J.H. Jones, S.R., Harper S.R., and Associates. Student Services: A handbook for the Profession (5th ed.), San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2011
Chapter 8: The Nature and use of Theory by Susan R. Jones and Elisa S. Abes

16. Any questions?
Any questions?

17. Class Activity
Read the provided story from the book of Genesis. Chapter 22, versus 1-14.
How would someone in your stage understand this story?
What meaning can we expect them to find in this story?