185. Your Faith Isn't Broken — Brian McLaren at Restore
Sep 24, 2023
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Brian McLaren, faith development expert, shares a simple framework for faith development, emphasizing inclusivity. Topics include faith journey, transitioning to complexity, the beauty and danger of God, accepting reality, stage-sensitive leadership, and the influence of Pope Francis.
Brian McLaren presents a framework for faith development that emphasizes inclusivity and acceptance of all stages of faith, highlighting the importance of creating a Church and a community where each stage is welcome and included.
McLaren discusses the stages of faith development, including simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony, encouraging individuals to question and explore their beliefs, recognizing that doubt and skepticism can lead to growth and a deeper understanding of spirituality.
Deep dives
Main Idea 1
Brian McLaren presents a framework for faith development, emphasizing inclusivity and acceptance of all stages of faith. He uses the metaphor of a tree growing fatter with each new ring to explain the four stages: simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony. McLaren suggests that these stages are not hierarchical, but rather represent different ways of engaging with faith. He encourages individuals to question and explore their beliefs, recognizing that doubt and skepticism can lead to growth and a deeper understanding of spirituality.
Main Idea 2
McLaren discusses the stages of faith development and points out that many people remain in simplicity or complexity their whole lives. He explores the transitions from simplicity to complexity, triggered by experiences such as interfaith relationships, education, or reading. McLaren also highlights the importance of finding mentors and coaches who encourage independent thinking and provide guidance in navigating the complexities of faith. He emphasizes that in this stage of complexity, individuals seek meaning in individual and group achievement and in being independent.
Main Idea 3
The stage of perplexity is characterized by questioning one's in-group and critiquing both external and internal beliefs. McLaren acknowledges the pain and fear that can come with severe perplexity, but also highlights the growth potential it offers. He encourages individuals to embrace doubt and engage in searching for truth and honesty. McLaren suggests that communities and spaces that welcome stage three individuals, where questions and differing perspectives are valued, can provide support and facilitate growth.
Main Idea 4
McLaren introduces the concept of integral, non-dual faith as the fourth stage of faith development. At this stage, individuals recognize the interconnectedness of all things, the limits of knowledge, and the value of universal love and connection. McLaren explains that this stage is not the endpoint, as there is a cyclical process of moving between different stages throughout life. He notes the importance of having stage four leaders who can support and guide individuals at earlier stages, fostering inclusive communities that accept and encourage growth at each stage of faith development.
For this week’s episode, we’re sharing one more talk with you from our Restore gathering in 2022. This was one of our absolute favorite sessions, and it was the final presentation, right at the end on Saturday afternoon. We were privileged to hear from Brian McLaren, who shared his simple and incredibly resonant framework for faith development. It’s one that we’ve referenced before on this podcast, and we think you’ll love hearing Brian teach it. Brian does a beautiful job emphasizing that the point isn’t to get everyone to a particular “stage” of faith — rather, it’s creating a Church and a community where each stage is welcome and included.
First, you’ll hear Brian give his presentation, and afterward, Tim and Aubrey sit down for a live Q&A with him. We think Brian brought really key insights to both parts of this session. When we listened back, there was so much there that we hadn’t fully absorbed, and even if you were with us at Restore last year, we think this one’s really worth a listen.
For those of you who haven’t heard Brian from before, he’s a bestselling author, speaker, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for a Christianity that is just, generous, and works with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a core faculty member of The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. His newest books are Faith After Doubt, released in 2021, and Do I Stay Christian?, which was released in 2022.
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