Universal Spiritual Development Phases ​

Researchers have long sought to categorize human development of all types. Theories about human development are plentiful and some more accurate than others. No tool can exactly capture every stage of development that a person may progress through and each individual experience is unique. It is vital to remember that any list or chart put forth is only an approximation of "typical" development and can never catch all the nuances of human growth and change.

Researchers have created such lists for every facet of humanity from psychology, to physicality, to sexuality to spirituality. Some areas have received much more attention and funding than others. One area that has received little attention or funding in academic spheres is spiritual development. Many religious leaders have attempted to fill this gap with various models for development of faith and religious commitment. Many of these are limited to one particular religious tradition or sect.

One model that has been well researched in academic literature is James W. Fowler's Primary Stages of Faith. It has proved to be a resilient and accurate model that has stood up to much testing over the decades and is viewed widely with authority. While it is useful in an educational context, it lacks usefulness in the clinical setting. It excels in accuracy from a clinical frame of reference, but is not used for diagnostic purposes. It is weighed down with advanced clinical jargon which creates a barrier to use with clients. It has its purpose and its limits.

So I grew frustrated with the lack of suitable models that can be applied to any religious or spiritual worldview while also being useful for dialogue with clients about their own progress. I sought to design a tool based on accepted stages of progression without being encumbered by clinical jargon. Erikson's psychosocial development phases seemed a good place to start. I then sought a spiritual developmental model that could be applied universally and was not overly complex. I decided on Pastor Gary DeLashmutt's stages of spiritual development. I then combined these and attempted to distill them down into five stages so as to provide a detailed progression but avoid getting lost in excessive stages. 

I have produced the below universal spiritual development phases. Each stage is based on a part of the lifespan, but no ages are attached as some individuals may not progress through all the stages. 

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This is a tool useful for spiritual mentors to gage where a person may be along their spiritual journey. It is meant as a guide to conceptualize spiritual development and promote dialogue, not as a diagnostic tool. I have found this tool useful in discussions with some clients. I do not use it with most. It is helpful to have a client rate where they fall. The clinician can also rate them and then the two can compare notes. 

1: Childhood - Preoccupied by learning​.
Spiritual focus: self-discovery - discovering what and who we are as spiritual beings. ​

2: Young Adulthood - Preoccupied by a higher purpose beyond the self​.
Spiritual focus: finding our limits as spiritual beings (both personal and those imposed by others)​

3: Middle Adulthood - Preoccupied by producing legacy​.
Spiritual focus: contributing to and building things, ideas or movements that will outlast the self. ​

4: Late Adulthood - Preoccupied by imparting wisdom​.
Spiritual focus: contributing to the spiritual wellbeing of younger generations as well as preparing self for death and beyond (both ethereal and material) ​

5: Afterlife - Preoccupied by TBD by each person​.
Spiritual focus: influencing others through the legacy left behind in this material world which is primarily produced before death.​

Compiled by David F. Garner from Erik Ericson's theory of psychosocial development and Pastor Gary DeLashmutt's stages of spiritual development. 

Sources:

1. https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html

2. https://www.dwellcc.org/teaching/1595/bible/1-john/2/gary-delashmutt/2005/stages-of-spiritual-development

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