Training Extra 2 Faith development The following handout gives a summary of the way that faith can be seen to develop in children and adults ,t is not deÀnitive The age ranges indicated are a guide only Some people move through the stages faster and some much slower. Not everyone will move through all the stages and many people will remain throughout the rest of their lives at the stage of development expected from young adulthood or even adolescence. The statements in italics give an indication of how each stage of faith development might look in a Christian context.
Nursed faith – 0–2 years x x x x
Trust is learned by basic needs being met and love given and received Good relationships with carers important for future faith development Faith is based on relationships with carers Concept of God develops from parental relationships
Chaotic faith – 3–7 years x Highly imaginative with literal, powerful and unconnected images, not yet reasoned thinking x Active with lots of questions of ‘why’, ‘how’ type x Symbols are taken literally or as ‘magical’ x Believe what they are told x SigniÀcant adults very important to faith x Begin to see Jesus as friend and God as Father
Ordering faith – 7–11 years x x x x x x
Thinking is more reasoned, but still literal, including understanding of symbols Stories are important and the difference between fact and Àction understood Others’ points of view begin to be understood Belonging to a group of peers is important Faith is linked to the need to belong Can understand Jesus as Saviour
Conforming faith – adolescence onwards x x x x x x
Thinking is abstract and reÁective. 4uestioning ‘why’ can lead to conÁict with authority More developed ability to understand other perspectives ‘:ho am ,"’ and ‘How do , Àt in"’ are key questions Faith is relational, taking on beliefs of wider group Church can be seen as extended family and leaders held in high regard Jesus seen as Lord
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Choosing faith – young adult onwards x Thinking involves choosing, making decisions and learning for themselves x Often see a need to ‘Ànd faith for self’ and reMect earlier experiences and faith as ‘second hand’ x ,dentiÀcation with faith group weakens x Can have sense of having all the answers x Faith is made personal, with responsibility for what one believes x Relationship with God seen as important
This handout is a summary of James Fowler’s Faith Development theory, with the addition of some possible views of God, developed by Alison Dayer. Stage headings from Touching the Future Gill Dallow, 2002, pp88-89 © 2008 Scripture Union, used by permission
Balanced faith – older adult onwards x x x x
Greater awareness of limitations of self and less sureness about earlier Mudgements Greater openness to views and values of others Prepared to accept ambiguity more readily Faith accepts God as being complex and being in control whilst allowing for free-will
6elÁess faith – later life x x x x
Strong desire to love and help others with little regard for self /ifestyle is self sacriÀcial An example is Mother Theresa Faith focussed entirely on God and service
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