Metamodern Christianity | 5. Catechism for a Metamodern Christian
Jul 10, 2024
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Diving into the concept of catechism, the discussion explores what supportive spiritual education could look like in a metamodern context. It highlights phases of faith development from childhood enchantment to rational meaning-making, encouraging a journey that embraces doubt and complexity. Each stage of growth reflects evolving understandings of belief and the divine. The creators advocate for lifelong learning and invite listeners to reflect on what's missing in their spiritual journeys.
The podcast emphasizes that spirituality is an evolving journey, necessitating a flexible approach to faith that respects individual developmental stages.
It outlines distinct developmental phases in spiritual learning that encourage critical questioning and a deeper engagement with faith throughout adolescence and early adulthood.
Deep dives
The Evolving Nature of Spirituality
Spirituality is viewed as an unfolding journey rather than a fixed set of beliefs. This perspective recognizes that individuals grow and develop through various life stages, requiring a flexible approach to faith that accommodates their developmental needs. A metamodern spirituality would integrate different Christian modalities into a comprehensive and harmonious understanding, reflecting the natural cycles of human growth. By taking spirituality seriously as a continuous evolution, a deeper connection to faith is fostered throughout different life phases.
Stages of Developmental Faith
The podcast outlines distinct developmental stages, starting from childhood and progressing through adolescence to early adulthood. For young children, innocence and enchantment with simple biblical narratives cultivate an early comfort with faith. As individuals mature, they begin to question and reflect on their beliefs, exploring complex interpretations of religious stories and rituals. This developmental view aligns with psychological theories, like those by James Fowler, which suggest that faith can grow richer and more nuanced with age.
Embracing Complexity and Relativism
As individuals reach their teenage years and enter young adulthood, they grapple with increasing complexity and may experience a sense of perplexity regarding their beliefs. This stage involves critical questioning of faith, leading to an exploration of different religious interpretations and philosophies. The confrontation with pluralism and relativism can induce confusion but is an essential part of the spiritual journey. Recognizing this developmental phase allows for deeper engagement with doubt and uncertainty, fostering a richer understanding of faith.
Towards a Metamodern Harmony
In the later stages of adulthood, individuals can cultivate an integrated understanding of their spiritual journey, balancing complexity with a loosely held sense of stability. This metamodern harmony acknowledges the ongoing evolution of faith while incorporating insights from various phases of development. By embracing paradox and uncertainty, a sense of connection to a larger spiritual truth emerges, celebrating both tradition and modernity. Ultimately, fostering this harmonious perspective encourages continuous growth and deepening of one's spiritual life.
1.
Exploring the Stages of Metamodern Christian Faith Development
Catechism has meant "religious education," especially as a coming-of-age initiation into the fullness of spiritual community and engagement with its mysteries. It has to do with what sort of support and instruction young people and converts receive about their faith as they move into deeper spiritual relationship with God and church. Here I ask, What would a supportive catechism look like for Christians on the path towards a metamodern form of faith? How might religious learning unfold in healthy and sustainable ways such as would foster a kind of Christianity that is truly metamodern in outlook? What are the right developmental moments for literalism, doubt, even atheism, and conviction?
0:00 An Education for Faith
1:55 Grades or Phases of Spiritual Learning
4:32 Age 0-7*: Childhood Enchantment
9:20 Age 7-10: Mythic Literalism
15:12 Age 10-13: Symbolic Belief
21:03 Age 13-15: Reflective Religion
26:24 Age 15-18: Rational Meaning-Making
29:28 Age 18-23: Deconstructive Questioning
41:33 Age 23-27: Integrative Wisdom
50:13 What's Missing?
54:13 Invitation to Keep Learning
*All ages are just rough approximations
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