Slides from lecture given in Minneapolis, May 2011

2. liturgy,
preaching, and
naked
spirituality

3. what
is
preaching?

4. transportation
information

5. transportation
information
indoctrination
domestication

6. transportation
information
sales pitch
indoctrination
domestication

7. transportation
information
sales pitch
indoctrination main show
domestication

8. transportation
information
sales pitch
indoctrination main show
domestication item on
check-list

9. transportation
information
sales pitch
indoctrination main show
domestication item on
check-list
vocal display

10. transportation
information
sales pitch
indoctrination main show
domestication item on
check-list
bait & switch vocal display

11. transportation all these and
information more
sales pitch
indoctrination main show
domestication item on
check-list
bait & switch vocal display

12. pregnancy coaching

13. something is
trying
to be
born

14. three trimesters
then birth

15. How can they inform
your preaching?
4 stages
How can they help you in
your own spiritual journey?

16. 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
Ken Blanchard - enthusiastic beginner, disillusioned learner,
capable but cautious performer, self-reliant achiever
Graves/Beck/Wilber - archaic-instinctive, animist/tribal, ego-
centric-exploitive, absolutist -obedience authoritarian,
scientific strategic, relativistic-personalistic -
communitarian; systemic-integral, holistic,

17. Four Stages
of Faith
Development

18. Stage 1
Simplicity

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

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

21. 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

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

23. Stage 1
Simplicity
Life is a war.

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

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

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

27. Stage 1
Tell me what’s good and right.
Tell me what’s bad and wrong.
When you can’t give me
certainty, give me clarity.
Preach with confidence.

28. Stage 1
Simplicity

29. Stage 2
Complexity

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

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

32. 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

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

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

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

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

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

38. Stage 2
Add to my knowledge.
Give me historical context.
Give me lists - steps, reasons,
viewpoints, goals, examples.
Preach with intelligence.

39. Stage 2
Complexity

40. Stage 3
Perplexity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

49. Stage 3
Tell me the “downsides.”
Give me both (many) sides.
Share your struggles.
Preach with transparency.

50. Stage 3
Perplexity

51. Stage 4
Harmony

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

60. Stage 4
Give me depth.
Manifest awe and wonder.
Show me deep connections.
Preach with humility.

61. Stage 4
Harmony

62. Stage 1
Simplicity

63. Stage 2
Complexity

64. Stage 3
Perplexity

65. Stage 4
Humility

66. Doubt
occurs at
margins.

67. 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.

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

69. An observation:
Leaders seldom lead people in a
stage beyond their own.

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

71. 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.

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

73. 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.

74. We need churches and ministries
that help people at all levels ...
And we need to keep in mind the
ultimate goal: people characterized
by ...

75. love

76. something is
trying
to be
born

77. you are a
pregnancy coach

78. simplicity
complexity
perplexity
harmony

79. How can they inform
your preaching?
4 stages
How can they help you in
your own spiritual journey?