Faith Development In The Adult Life Cycle

This volume presents materials related to a symposium that addressed adult faith development. Chapters 1 and 2 provide background information on this topic and an overview of the symposium. Chapter 3 contains the hypotheses paper by Charles Bruning and Kenneth Stokes that was the basic document of the symposium. It provides a review of the literature of the fields of faith development and the adult life cycle and the interface between them, presents some fundamental concepts, and suggests possible hypotheses for research. Chapters 4-8 are critiques of the hypotheses paper. Titles are "An Adult Educator's Reflections" (Malcolm Knowles); "Responses from an Adult Development Perspective" (Winston Gooden); "Response from the Moral Development Perspective" (Mary Wilcox); "Responses from the Religious Education Perspective" (Gabriel Moran); and "Stages of Faith and Adults' Life Cycles" (James Fowler). Chapters 9-15 are commentaries or reflection papers on the authors' symposium experiences. They include "A Sociological Perspective" (Robert Wuthnow); "A Clinical Psychologist's Perspective" (Richard Shulik); "Faith Stances, Imagination, and Campus Ministry" (Paul Johnson); "Higher Education as a Resource" (Barbara Pelowski); "A Symposium: Creative Tension at Play" (Linda Vogel); "Implications for Adult Religious Education" (Joan Cronin); and "Faith Development and Theological Education" (William Phillips). An appendix discusses the project that led to the symposium and this book. (YLB)

Charts spiritual progress through the life cycle by being attentive to classical and modern models of human development and spiritual progress.

Through research and "faith-life" stories, readers are encouraged to view growing in faith as a life-long process. Addresses key questions in an adult's faith life such as doubt, stages of growth, and more.

This book, now in its second edition, brings together the best available understandings of human development from a multidisciplinary perspective. Uniquely inclusive of the moral and faith dimensions of context and life-cycle development, Human Development and Faith examines the interplay of mind, body, family, community, and soul at every stage of development. It addresses two central questions: What are the "good-enough" conditions of parenting, family, and community in each phase of life, from birth to death, that support growth and development? What gives life adequate meaning as development proceeds? If human development describes the normative and hoped-for passages of life, then faith provides the necessary component of meaning. Throughout the various perspectives offered in this volume is the premise that faith is that quality of living that makes it possible to fully live.The Journal of Pastoral Theology called the first edition of Human Development and Faith "an excellent text for pastoral theology courses, because it fulfills its ambitious goal of bringing a holistic faith perspective to the usual topics of development." This second edition includes a new chapter on infancy, updates reflecting our growing awareness of cultural diversity, and a new preface.

In this updated reissue of his 1984 classic, James Fowler applies his groundbreaking research on the development of faith to Christianity. In his revised first chapter Fowler locates his approach to the study of human and faith development in relation to the contemporary conversation about identity and selfhood in postmodernity. Fowler invites readers to explore what it means to find and claim vocation: a purpose for one's life that is part of the purposes of God. Reclaiming covenant and vocation as ideals for responsible, mature, Christian selfhood, Fowler shows how a dynamic understanding of what vocation involves can both inform and transform lives.

Editors and authors James Estep and Jonathan Kim have pulled together something often talked about but seldom seen, namely, a thoroughgoing attempt to integrate theology and science, in this case, social science. Their organization, interpretation, and evaluation of mountains of information from both sides has resulted in an expert, yet easily understandable guide to Christian spiritual formation and development. Both academics and practitioners will find help in this volume, one that is certain to be a standard work for years to come.

This thoroughly updated text offers students and adults an overarching perspective. The "Faith" section focuses on the nature of human faith and Christian faith. The "Religion" section examines the personal and social value of religion, religious belief and behavior, and offers an overview of major world religions. The "Theology" section includes an analysis of the theology/faith relationship. Suggested readings and study questions, excellent end notes and index add to the value of this edition.