Extending Our Vision of Developmental Growth and Engaging in Empirical Scrutiny: Proposals for the Future of Faith Development Theory
نویسنده
چکیده
This article evaluates the portrait of faith development theory and research in James Fowler’s article, “Faith Development at 30.” Questions are raised: Does Fowler’s emphasis on the practical-theological and pastoral focus of faith development contradict its aspiration and disposition for empirical scrutiny? Does Fowler’s principal concern with the reactions from Christian theologians and religious educators indicate disregard of and from psychology? Both questions can be denied with reference to the large amount of research projects which use and apply the faith development perspective. The article suggests further engagement in theory discussion, methodological clarification and empirical research; it invites networking among researchers and indicates future research strategies. But also the practical-theological relevance of faith development theory, especially for religious education, are demonstrated with reference to recent research. The article concludes, in agreement with Fowler, with a proposal to notice the importance of the Conjunctive Faith style for social bodies, and to include this in religious education. With the latter, the article moves beyond a wide-spread faith development application and argues against the false assumption as if children and adolescents could not understand and consider Conjunctive Faith. It is an honor for me to be invited to respond to James Fowler’s article in this journal issue. However, it is a challenge to keep my response brief, while commenting on at least some of the issues raised by this comprehensive narrative account of faith development’s past and future. I shall highlight some new insights that the text offers or to which it draws fresh attention. I will expand on them and take them forward to proposals for the future of faith development theory that I regard as critical and decisive: empirical scrutiny and the enlargement of our vision of developmental growth. Religious Education Copyright C © The Religious Education Association Vol. 99 No. 4 Fall 2004 ISSN: 0034–4087 print DOI: 10.1080/00344080490519913
منابع مشابه
Theory of Construction of the Iranian Educational Sport Future: Social Constructivism
This paper attempts to link social constructivism with future research by focusing on which, and to present a short-range theory in constructing the possible future of Iranian educational sport in this process, using the constructivist approach of the basic theory. The growth of educational sports is beginning of the development of sports. The data of this qualitative research had an explorator...
متن کاملIdeas for Extending the Approach to Evaluating Health in All Policies in South Australia; Comment on “Developing a Framework for a Program Theory-Based Approach to Evaluating Policy Processes and Outcomes: Health in All Policies in South Australia”
Since 2008, the government of South Australia has been using a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach to achieve their strategic plan (South Australia Strategic Plan of 2004). In this commentary, we summarize some of the strengths and contributions of the innovative evaluation framework that was developed by an embedded team of academic researchers. To inform how the use of HiAP is evaluated mo...
متن کاملپیشبینی رشد جمعیت ایران با توجه به مؤلفههای اقتصادی- اجتماعی و مبتنی بر رویکرد میانرشتهای
Population growth is a phenomenon that may not be explained only by relying on economic factors. Thus, this article tries to explain population growth issue according to Inglehart-Welzel's Modernization and Cultural Change Theory besides economic factors. It also tries to take a multidisciplinary approach to project and model the strategic variable of population on the basis of socio-economic v...
متن کاملFuture-oriented implications of the resilience theory for Iran public libraries
Target: In order to play their role in social developments, public libraries face technological changes and unknown issues that can affect their identity and mission .In reference to the application of novel approaches to reconceptualize the mission of public libraries, this study tries to employ resilience theory to craft a vision for the future of Iran public libraries. Method: This study u...
متن کاملEndophytes: Toward a Vision in Synthesis of Nanoparticle for Future Therapeutic Agents
The development of reliable processes for the synthesis of Nanoparticles is an important aspect of nanotechnology. Biologically synthesized nanoparticles could have innumerable applications in different areas such as reception, catalyzers, biolabellers, etc. In the present review, we emphasize the richness of the microbial world which encompasses a plethora of endophytic entities as an emerging...
متن کامل