St. Simon's Island, January Adventure

1. Text
Faith Beyond Fundamentalism
& Anti-Fundamentalism:
where do we go from here?

2. Faith Beyond Stage 1:
Four Stages in the Journey of Faith
Text

3. Sea anemones at 88 feet, natural light

4. Same sea anemones at 88 feet, with full spectrum light

5. What you see depends on
your available light.
Your available light depends on
your depth or stage of ascent.

6. Four Stages on
the Journey
of Faith

7. Is this normal?
What should I expect next?
Are we there yet?
Will this be on the test?
Why do I need to learn this?

8. stages
levels
zones
turnings

9. William Blake - innocence, experiences, higher
experience
Soren Kierkegaard - aesthetic, ethical, religious
William Perry - dualism (a,b), multiplicity (a,b),
relativism (a,b), commitment (a,b,c)
James Fowler - primal, mythical-literal, synthetic-
conventional, individual-reflective, conjunctive,
universalizing
Graves/Beck/Wilber - archaic-instinctive, animist/
tribal, ego-centric-exploitive, absolutist -
authoritarian, scientific strategic, relativistic-
personalistic - communitarian; systemic-integral,
holistic

10. Four Stages
of Faith
Development

11. Stage 1

12. Stage 1
Simplicity

13. Stage 1

14. Stage 1
Simplicity
You’re either for us or against
us. It’s all or nothing.

15. Stage 1

16. Stage 1
Simplicity
Focus: Right or wrong? Good or
bad?
Motive: Pleasing authority
figures, being an insider “us”
Perception: Dualistic

17. Stage 1

18. Stage 1
Beliefs
-everything is known or
knowable; there are easy
answers to every question
-good authorities/us are the ones
who know the right answers
-the bad guys/them are wrong

19. Stage 1

20. Stage 1
Authorities
Godlike, God’s representatives,
they know and give answers

21. Stage 1

22. Stage 1
Simplicity
Life is a war.

23. Stage 1

24. Stage 1
Identity: In my leader or group.
Relationships: Dependent or co-
dependent

25. Stage 1

26. Stage 1
Simplicity
God is …
The Ultimate Authority Figure
or Ultimate Friend

27. Stage 1

28. Stage 1
Simplicity
STRENGTHS: highly committed,
willing to sacrifice and suffer.
WEAKNESSES: May be willing
to inflict suffering or kill.
Arrogant, simplistic, combative,
judgmental, intolerant

29. Stage 1

30. Stage 1
Simplicity

31. Stage 2

32. Stage 2
Complexity

33. Stage 2

34. Stage 2
Complexity
There’s more than one way to
do things.

35. Stage 2

36. Stage 2
Complexity
Focus: Effective or ineffective?
Technique, winning, success
Motive: Reach goals, being
effective
Perception: Pragmatic

37. Stage 2

38. Stage 2
Beliefs:
-anything is doable
-there are many ways to reach
the goal
-authorities/us are the ones who
know how to do it
-the bad guys don’t do the right
stuff

39. Stage 2

40. Stage 2
Authorities
Coaches. They help you grow
and succeed with know-how.

41. Stage 2

42. Stage 2
Complexity
Life is a game.
Learn the rules.
Play to win.

43. Stage 2

44. Stage 2
Complexity
Identity: My cause or
achievement.
Relationships: Increasingly
independent.

45. Stage 2

46. Stage 2
Complexity
God is …
The Ultimate Guide or Coach

47. Stage 2

48. Stage 2
Complexity
STRENGTHS: Enthusiasm,
idealism, action
WEAKNESSES: Superficial,
naïve, overly pragmatic

49. Stage 2

50. Stage 2
Complexity

51. Stage 3

52. Stage 3
Perplexity

53. Stage 3

54. Stage 3
Perplexity
Everyone has an opinion. Who
knows who is right?

55. Stage 3

56. Stage 3
Perplexity
Focus: Honest or dishonest?
Authentic or inauthentic?
Motive: Being honest or
authentic
Perception: Relativistic, critical

57. Stage 3

58. Stage 3
Beliefs
-little/nothing is known or
knowable; everybody has an
opinion
-good people are honest about
their questions

59. Stage 3

60. Stage 3
Authorities are ...
Controllers
The Enemy
Trying to impose easy answers
on the naïve
Trying to use the naive

61. Stage 3

62. Stage 3
Perplexity
Life is …
a joke
mystery
or search

63. Stage 3

64. Stage 3
Identity: In solitude, or among a
small band of similarly alienated
friends
Relationships: Counter-
dependent

65. Stage 3

66. Stage 3
Perplexity
God is …
mythic authority I’ve outgrown
mysterious reality I’m seeking
or opiate of the pathetic
masses

67. Stage 3

68. Stage 3
Perplexity
STRENGTHS: depth, honesty,
sensitivity to suffering, perhaps
ironic humor
WEAKNESSES: cynical,
uncommitted, withdrawn,
critical, depressed, elitist

69. Stage 3

70. Stage 3
Perplexity

71. Stage 4

72. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony

73. Stage 4

74. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony
Seek first God’s kingdom … love
God, love neighbors … in
essentials unity … focus on a
few grand essentials

75. Stage 4

76. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony
Focus: Wise or unwise?
Fulfilling potential
Motive: Serve, contribute, make
a difference
Perception: Integrated,
synthesizing, sympathetic

77. Stage 4

78. Stage 4
Beliefs
-some things are known, many
are mysteries; life is a quest
-there is no “them”

79. Stage 4

80. Stage 4
Authorities
people like me
imperfect
sometimes doing their best,
sometimes dishonest,
sometimes sincerely misguided

81. Stage 4

82. Stage 4
Life is ...
What you make it (with God’s
help)

83. Stage 4

84. Stage 4
Identity: In mutual relationships
Relationships: Interdependent

85. Stage 4

86. Stage 4
God is ...
Knowable in part, yet
mysterious, present yet
transcendent, just yet merciful
(able to hold truths in tension --
“paradoxy”)

87. Stage 4

88. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony
STRENGTHS: May exhibit
strengths of previous stages,
plus stability, endurance,
wisdom
WEAKNESSES: May display
weaknesses of earlier stages

89. Stage 4

90. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony

91. Stage 1

92. Stage 1
Simplicity

93. Stage 2

94. Stage 2
Complexity

95. Stage 3

96. Stage 3
Perplexity

97. Stage 4

98. Stage 4
Humility/Harmony

99. Doubt
occurs at
margins.

100. An observation:

101. An observation:
Cults and “bad faith” or “toxic”
religion can be seen as groups
which require people to revert to a
Stage 1 status and stay there.

102. An observation:
Cults and “bad faith” or “toxic”
religion can be seen as groups
which require people to revert to a
Stage 1 status and stay there.
Stage 1 is easier for the leaders
and followers … in a way.

103. An observation:

104. An observation:
Whole denominations or
parachurch organizations seem to
specialize in certain stages, and
fail people in other stages.

105. An observation:

106. An observation:
Leaders seldom (never?) lead
people in a stage beyond their own.

107. An observation:
Leaders seldom (never?) lead
people in a stage beyond their own.
1’s lead 1’s.

108. An observation:
Leaders seldom (never?) lead
people in a stage beyond their own.
1’s lead 1’s.
2’s lead 2’s and 1’s.

109. An observation:
Leaders seldom (never?) lead
people in a stage beyond their own.
1’s lead 1’s.
2’s lead 2’s and 1’s.
3’s lead 3’s and 2’s.

110. An observation:
Leaders seldom (never?) lead
people in a stage beyond their own.
1’s lead 1’s.
2’s lead 2’s and 1’s.
3’s lead 3’s and 2’s.
4’s lead 4’s and 3’s (plus?)

111. An observation:

112. An observation:
Stage 3 is tough on everybody --
leaders and followers.

113. An observation:

114. An observation:
Jesus models working with people
in each stage, and always brings
them farther on the journey.

115. A question:

116. A question:
How do we minister to people with
such contrary expectations, needs,
issues, and desires?

117. A question:
How do we minister to people with
such contrary expectations, needs,
issues, and desires?
A direction:

118. A question:
How do we minister to people with
such contrary expectations, needs,
issues, and desires?
A direction:
Explore Jesus as teacher … not just
in content, but also in method.

119. An important reminder

120. An important reminder
The goal isn’t to rush through the
stages to get to 4 as soon as
possible.

121. An important reminder
The goal isn’t to rush through the
stages to get to 4 as soon as
possible.
Each stage has lessons to teach,
and prepares for the next.

122. An important reminder
The goal isn’t to rush through the
stages to get to 4 as soon as
possible.
Each stage has lessons to teach,
and prepares for the next.

123. disciple Dis*ci"ple, n. [OE. disciple, deciple,
OF. disciple, fr. L. discipulus, fr. discere to
learn (akin to docere to teach; see Docile) +
prob. a root meaning to turn or drive, as in L.
pellere to drive (see Pulse).] One who
receives instruction from another; a scholar;
a learner; especially, a follower who has
learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine
of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine; as,
the disciples of Plato; the disciples of our
Savior

125. We need churches and ministries
that help people at all levels ...

126. We need churches and ministries
that help people at all levels ...

130. Four Stages
in the
journey of
faith

132. SIMPLICITY

133. COMPLEXITY

134. PERPLEXITY

135. HARMONY

136. R
S
N
M Q
E
L D O
K
C
A F
B
J
G
H
T I P

137. R
S
W N
M Q
E
L D O
K
C
V A F
B
J
G
H
T I P
U

138. Four Stages on
the Journey
of Faith