[ James Fowler ]

James Fowler's Stages of Faith

There are six stages of Faith in the eyes of Fowler. Of these six steps, in the public eye, or in our "quest for relation to transcendence" (Fowler), it would be for most people, preferable to be of the higher stages. Unforunately, although it is the last stage of Fowler's analysis, there may be higher stages of moral.

Stage Five, the Conjunctive Faith describes a person who has removed the boundaries of race, culture, religion and any other differences between people. They begin to realize that humans are all alike and should be treated with respect, however are not convicted enough to actively pursue this realization.

Stage Six, the universalistic faith, is where one becomes an activist for the unitive vision. This is the final stage in which one has compassion to all. Prominent figures would be Mother Teresa in her later life, ex-pope John Paul III, and myself. [Lier.]

Problem with the highest level, is that in some cases, one loses reality. Some like JP3 ignore that fact that some people don't change. Forgiving someone who has attempted to kill a political figure is a great feat (even if it just so happens to be yourself) that's worthy of stage six.

What happens if that person does not desist? There is a danger of over forgiveness.

Take the Batman (Dark Knight) comic. Every time Batman foils one of The Joker's vile attacks on the general public, the police come along, and lock him him. Eventually, some passionate person comes along and rehabilitates the Joker, and then, is free to keep the mad killing.
(For the sake of curiosity, Batman eventually kills the Joker in this comic.)

In this case, one must step down from Stage Six, or perhaps, reach another height. This (let us dub it as a magical and wonderous pixie level) Stage Magical/Pixie requires one to show compassion, but at the same time, understand that in some extreme cases, one must somehow stop the perpetrator. What this method is, I cannot fathom, this magic stage is at least two stages above me. Perhaps it is unending rehabilitation, where the person knowingly places the person in solidary confinement with no intention to release the person.

In conclusion (which introduces the central idea and concludes) Stage Six does not offer complete satisfaction to a human. There may be a few more stages, however considering transcendence is to surpass others, six stages is quite adequate considering that persons of stage six is quite rare, it would be hard to find one of a seventh stage. Not only that this person would they be fulfilling an undefined stage, but also that one of stage seven(?) would have the tact to avoid mass publication and coverage. Perhaps these persons don't exist, but there must be a type of person who is compassionate to all, and at the same time understands that this is not always possible. Perhaps it is my lack of understanding the sixth stage, perhaps not.

- Mrah'Sponagi