Fowlers Stages of faith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 13750 words

Fowlers Stages of religion - Essay ExampleFINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 43 CHAPTER V 54 outcome AND RECOMMENDATION 54 5.1. SUMMARY 55 5.2. CONCLUSION 56 5.3. RECOMMENDATIONS 57 5.4. FUTURE POSSIBILITY OF THE query AND SOME DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED 58 Bibliography 59 ABSTRACT 63 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.0. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Since the antediluvian period, humanity has constantly tried to understand peoples relation and position with the world, with the universe, with transcendental reality. The industrial plant of Plato and Aristotle offer how human beings may be able to apprehend their position in the cosmos (see Phaedrus, The Republic, The Metaphysics ). However, during the mediate Ages, when peoples nature is defined more(prenominal) in terms of their relation with God, cartel pursuit sympathy has become an attestation of a individuals innate ability to understand the psyche in relation with God. Nonetheless, the questions and the longing for answers do not end there. In this sense, the desire to understand the message of life, its purpose and its relation with God and Others have long been part of the questions underpinning human existence. This yearning has become more concrete in the midst of the angst rising from current human experiences, of the present human condition. In this regard, the unavoidableness of understanding faith dimension in the lives of people in the contemporary period becomes more imperative as people try to find meaning and purpose for their lives. However, what is faith? Generally, faith is belief in the reality of a transcendental being. However, over the past few decades, a different approach to faith has been given. James Fowlers theory of faith development is considered as one of the most significant models of faith/spirituality development that has emerged (Stantrock, 1999 Parker, 2006). It seeks to chart the stages of faith within the chronological life span of a person (Fowler, 1981). As such, the model tries to e xplain the process by which individuals perspectives on ultimate meanings and values change during the material body of their life (Fowler, 1981). In this regard, Fowlers stages of faith, the only recognized measure of faith development stages (Moseley, Jarvis, Fowler & Di Nicola, 1993), has attracted further studies, debates and added military rank (Streib 2005 Parker, 2006). In lieu with this, the study will look into James Fowlers stages of faith vis-a-vis Christian faith. 1.1. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK As the study seeks to understand the relation between Fowlers Stages of Faith and the Christian faith, the clarification of the connection between the two will allow for the development of more depth and deeper understanding of faith. This becomes essential as Fowlers discourse on faith is considered as one of the most historic developments in understanding the phenomenon of faith. Furthermore, it attempts to present the position that as Fowlers faith and Stages of faith is used in addressing concerns in education, in counseling and other fields, it can be used to further explain the whim of faith within the Christian context. In this regard, if clarification of the connection between two conceptions of faith, then a wider and deeper appreciation of faith is possibly attained. It will enable people to discuss faith in likely abstraction but in the view of concrete and measurable developments that is charted across a persons life span. 1.2. Statement of the Study The purpose of this research investigation was to use Fowler