Hermetic Homiletics

Stage 4: Individuative-Reflective Faith

Attributes:
~Appears in late-adolescence or young adulthood
~Begins to take seriously the burden of responsibility of commitment, lifestyle, beliefs, and attitudes
~“Law and order” morality: “our laws are relative to our culture, but they must be obeyed for the sake of order” (a utilitarian approach)
~Facing these tensions:
+++ Individuality vs. group definition
+++ Subjectivity vs. objectivity
+++ Self-fulfillment vs. self-actualization
+++ Relativity vs. the possibility of the absolute.
~Double development:
+++ The self no longer claims an identity as defined by others (development of identity)
+++ To sustain that new identity, it composes a meaning frame, conscious of its own boundaries and inner connections, and aware of itself as a “worldview.” (Development of worldview.)
~Supremacy of the self’s ability to “figure it out” without interference of others
~Demythologizing: symbols become explicit, conceptualized meanings

Gifts:
~Can critically examine identity and worldview

Dangers:
~Excessive confidence in the conscious mind and in critical thought
~A kind of “second narcissism” arises in which the now clearly bounded, reflective self over-assimilates “reality” and the perspective of other into its own worldview

Transition:
~Restlessness with the self-images and outlook maintained by Stage 4 leads one to listen to the “anarchic” and disturbing inner “voices”
~Elements from a childish past, images and energies from a deeper self, and gnawing sense of the sterility and flatness of the meanings one serves appear
~Stories, symbols, myths, and paradoxes from one’s own or other traditions may insist on breaking in upon the neatness of the previous faith
~Disillusionment with one’s compromises and recognition that life is more completes than Stage 4’s logic of clear distinctions and abstract concepts can comprehend

Note: Too often, people are denied the opportunity to enter into a more fully “adult” faith by their faith communities. This “demythologizing” stage seemingly threatens to “undo” all of the previous stages. But it is vital for personal growth and the development of a vital and healthy faith.

posted by irreverance @ 1:56 PM