James Fowler Research Paper

James Fowler, Professor of Theology and Human Development, believes that faith mostly comes from life’s experiences, yet the Bible declares faith stems from hearing the Word of God. The Bible also reports that the Holy Spirit dwells inside those who have faith. However, there is one particular likeness between the two, that being the enemy of worldly things.

Professor of Theology and Human Development, James Fowler, attempts to explain a common or universal process that humans go through in the development of belief or faith. His developmental theory has six stages with a pre-stage that takes place during infancy. According to Fowler’s theory of faith development, development of faith is determined by a number of factors with the main ones

A good example being the belief in the resurrection of Christ from the dead as it is explained in 1 Corinthians 15: 14-17. That if Christ had not risen then Christians would, in fact, have nothing to believe in. It is also based on the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and this belief is guided by the Holy Spirit so that no one who has the Holy Spirit in them would ever say that Jesus Christ is cursed as it states in the book of 1 Corinthians 12:2-3. This is different from Fowler’s theory in which one's faith is molded into being their own experiences and their imagination, which yields faith when it is faced with reality. Fowler’s theory is for the source of faith being from whatever they go through by themselves rather than what happens in the life of another

In Philippians 3: 7-11, Paul explains that he is willing to lose all that he has gained for the sake of Jesus Crist. He explains this knowledge is more important and confesses that he doesn’t have righteousness of his own, only that which is given by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wants to know Jesus, suffer like him and eventually share in His resurrection. This is similar to the universalizing faith stage in which an individual is able to sacrifice for the good of others. They have been liberated from economic, social and political bondage just as Paul was free from all and willing to lose it all for the sake of the knowledge of Christ. In addition to that Paul loved his life and yet he was willing to suffer and even die just as an individual in this stage loves life yet holds it