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THE ROAD "NOT" TRAVELED!
(Five Stages on the Spiritual Journey)

Outline:
INTRODUCTION - 779 words
STAGE I.  FANTASY AND PERSONIFICATION - 1071 words
STAGE II.   LEGALISM AND CONCRETISM - 1140 words
STAGE III.  CONFORMITY AND COMPARTMENTALIZATION - 822 words
STAGE IV.  LOGIC AND REASON - 1214 words
STAGE V.  MATURITY AND UNITY - 1330 words
CONCLUSION. - 1658 words


INTRODUCTION:
(I don't know exactly how to credit this, because it is so different; but we
are deeply endebted to James W. Fowler in his book "Stages of Faith,"
HarperCollens, San Francisco, 1995 for suggesting this theme).

The road to spiritual maturity is largely untraveled because it is narrow
and lonely and murky.  There are no maps, no signs and few landmarks.  Since
each individual is left to discover and negotiate the path totally on his
own, many get stuck at some unproductive point along the way.  Jesus said,
"Narrow (is) the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matt.
7:14).

Humanity, as a whole, has moved through several stages of development.  Now,
each of us  has to do the same if we're to reach maturity.  Unfortunately,
guides for this journey are scarce.  Most religious leaders remain at lower
levels themselves because of ignorance and fear.  Others actually try to
keep followers at lower levels because they know immature individuals are
easier to manipulate and more willing to obey authority figures.

In fact, human beings, in general, are reluctant movers.  Almost no one
changes by choice.  Inertia is powerful and most of us prefer the
comfortable status quo.  That's why it takes external forces, such as
science and education, or external circumstances, such as failures and
tragedies to precipitate change.

There are two major types of changes: developmental and traumatic.
Developmental changes result from normal growth.  They come more or less on
schedule and are expected.  Events such as graduations, marriages, the
births of children, business successes and retirements can be anticipated.
Traumatic changes, on the other hand, come abruptly and unexpectedly.
Events such as premature deaths, divorces, bankruptcies, terrible accidents,
and life threatening illnesses can be devastating.  Once these occur, our
lives are never the same again.

Both developmental and traumatic changes inevitably lead to faith changes.
Stage transitions in childhood and adolescence are natural and gradual; but
stage transitions in adulthood can be much more difficult.  These
transitions often involve drastic emotional and intellectual readjustments.
We have to break certain connections and admit certain mistakes in judgment.
We lose our familiar identities; we give up our customary roles and we risk
severe disillusionments.  We discover that some valued things are no longer
real:  Santa Claus is fiction; parents can lie; friends can let us down;
lovers can be unfaithful; leaders can be corrupt; organizations can be
fallible; guardian angels can be unreliable; and now, even our objects of
faith and practices of worship are being called into question.

Furthermore, in most groups there is powerful pressure to keep everyone just
alike.  Those who are on a level below or above the surrounding community,
will be made to feel deviant.  That's why if adults get locked into one of
the early stages it becomes more and more unlikely that they will ever be
able to make the transition to the stages beyond.  Such fixated individuals
are totally dedicated to their belief system.  They see growth as the enemy,
and maintain that they have the only true ideology.

Such typical "fundamentalists" are so insecure and anxious that it's useless
to try to change them.  At this point in their development, authoritarian
theology feels right and they will keep it as long as they need it.  If it
gives them a sense of security to know without any shadow of a doubt that
Adam and Eve were historical persons, we shouldn't argue the point.  But, on
the other hand, we don't have to feel guilty for having different views.
Rigid belief systems help people avoid the anguish of uncertainty.  In spite
of our insistence upon freedom, most of us are still very nervous about
autonomy.  In general, people want to be told what to believe, what to think
and what to do.  This especially applies to religion, and once an individual
has committed to a "faith" he will protect it with a passionate intensity.
Any doubts about its validity create enormous anxiety.

Religious rituals and laws are temporary supports.  Their purpose is to give
people something to hold on to, until they are able to reach a higher
spiritual plane.  Once that plane is reached, however, these supports may be
discarded.

There are two dangers involved in Spiritual development.  One is to never
change, and to condemn those who do.  The other is the opposite: It is to
grow beyond our present level and then become overly critical of previous
stages.  As we mature, we will be able to view the situation more
objectively.  Even so, most people retain vestiges of former stages.

As we deal with faith and spirituality, we must realize that all "truth" and
especially truth in the area of religion has "layers of meaning."  That's
why basic beliefs and doctrines are understood, interpreted and expressed
very differently at each stage.  This causes much unnecessary religious
dissension.  So, let's examine the five stages of the spiritual journey:
(WC779)  To be Continued 02-07-05)

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This issue of NEW PERSPECTIVES  is from an unpublished manuscript ©
copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is
that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.

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You may find other messages and a book list on our Webpage:
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I would like to invite you to take advantage of our effort to clear our
storage area.  I will be happy to send you all the books we have available
at this time.  All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage which
comes to a little over $4 for about 17 books  (which is the cost, the last
time I mailed them).  Please wait until you receive  your books before
remitting.  My stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted but  I think
I have them on a CD so that  you can have all of them.  (All I'll need is
your Address and the Word Processing program you use.  I use Word Perfect,
but can supply it in Microsoft Word also). I don't plan to have any more
books printed, unless there is a demand for them.

Miles E Wesner