Summary of James Fowler’s Stages of Faith

STAGE 0: PRIMAL FAITH

• Age: Birth to 2 years
• Characteristics: Formation of basic trust or mistrust in the world, foundational to future faith. Pre-images of God and the kind of world we live in are developed.

STAGE 1: INTUITIVE-PROJECTIVE FAITH

• Age: 2 to 6 or 7 years
• Characteristics: Imagination-driven faith without logical questioning. Experiences and images from this stage can have long-lasting effects on faith.

STAGE 2: MYTHIC-LITERAL FAITH

• Age: Typically from 7 to 12 years
• Characteristics: Development of narrative skills. Children take stories and symbols literally and use them to make meaning of their experiences.

STAGE 3: SYNTHETIC-CONVENTIONAL FAITH

• Age: Begins around 12 or 13 years
• Characteristics: Formation of identity, influenced by feedback from significant others. God is perceived in personal terms, often as a Friend or Companion. Some adults remain in this stage.

STAGE 4: INDIVIDUATIVE-REFLECTIVE FAITH

• Age: Typically begins around 17 to mid-20s, but can occur later
• Characteristics: Critical reflection on personal beliefs and group values. Emergence of a sense of self separate from group identities. Concerned with authenticity and ideological commitments.

STAGE 5: CONJUNCTIVE FAITH

• Age: Around 35 to 40 years and beyond
• Characteristics: Recognition of the complexity and multidimensional nature of truth. Greater awareness of the unconscious and societal influences. Openness to paradox and deepened relationships with diverse groups.

STAGE 6: UNIVERSALIZING FAITH