Psychology & Our Christian Faith

[Gregory Matthews]

It would not be a surprise to anyone who knows me that psychology, as it applies to our Christian/SDA faith interests me.  This week, I read a large, 13-page, article on this subject.   As part of my process of understanding the issues raised in that article, I one part of it and restated what the author had written into a short 1-page abstract of that one aspect, which I have pasted in a post below this one.  That abstract contains a mixture of my words and the words of the author.  So, if you read it, do so carefully understanding that my work may not reflect what the author intended to present and is clearly a very limited portion of the original article.

I will suggest that the issues raised by that author, which I have attempted to briefly state in relation of one aspect, are related to current divisions that we face in the SDA Church today.  I will suggest that some are the differences that we face are due to the fact that people are at different stages in the development of their faith.  It should not be assumed that the identification of those stages mean that people at some stages are at a more advanced level of development.  Rather, it is just an indication that our Christian journey today is actually a journey and are at different places.

To me, these stages give me insight as to differences that exist among our members as to the role of EGW, and the authority of denominational leadership.

 These stages also suggest to me that in working with people we may need to be aware of where they are and take this into consideration as we relate to them.

Well, for whatever it is worth, in the post that follows, in my brief work-up.    Pay close attention to the note that I have placed at the end as to multiple sources for this information.

[Gregory Matthews]

Stages in the Development of Faith

Stage 0:  Undifferentiated Faith:  The initial status of a child at birth.

Stage 1:  Intuitive-Projective Faith:  This stage is ego-centric.    Social and moral issues & relationships lack basic understanding of cause and effect.  This stage often develops in the young, pre-school child.

Stage 2:  Mythic-Literal Faith:  With the development of cognition, comes concrete thinking.  Views of God are anthropomorphic and Biblical stories are viewed in concrete terms.  The faith community is expressed in terms of its stories.  Fairness and reciprocation  are applied to moral reasoning.  Often develops in children of school age.

Stage 3:  Synthetic-Conventional Faith: Abstract reasoning develops.  The person’s world is experienced beyond the family to a greater society at large.  Beliefs and values are developed within an aspect of conformity, without examination and unaware of their development.  External authority along with abstract reasoning, are important.  The agents of external authority may shift from the parents, to teachers and other figures.  These authority figures are little questioned. Often develops in adolescence.

Stage 4:  Individuative-Reflective Faith:  Outside influences, persons, life experiences and/or crisis, and experiences with other cultures cause one to challenge and reflect on the nature of their Stage 3 faith.  In stage 4, a person  questions the truth and meaning of their faith.     Claims of authority are met with the question:  What does it mean?  Conflicts between authority figures are decided by the application of reason.  Often develops in young adults.

Stage 5:  Paradoxical-Consolidative Faith:  In this stage, a person begins to accept their own limitations.    They may see truth as a paradox with no final, absolute certainty.  Develops with more maturity and life experiences in adulthood.

Stage 6:  Universalizing Faith:  This stage of faith is transforming and is often expressed by people who change the world I which they live.  It may be counter-culture.  Probably achieved by few people.

 NOTE:  The genesis of this subject lies in the work of Lawrence Kohlberg who developed a stage theory for the development of moral reasoning.  James Fowler built upon the work of Kohlberg to posit a seven step model for an individuals formation of meaning for life.  Graeme Sharrock, a SDA psychotherapist has built upon Fowler’s work in a developmental model as to how a person may come to view their faith as it relates to actual life.    My understanding of his model stems from his article, “Faith Development in a Scientific Culture” which was published in the 2000 book, edited by James Hayward:  Creation Reconsidered: Scientific, Biblical, and Theological Perspectives.