Four Stages of Faith

There are a number of people beginning the awakening process. This is a painful process of deconstruction of old belief systems. The story your parents, church, or society have told you begin to fall apart. It is helpful to know this is normal for those awakening from the Matrix.

There are four stages of faith. First is simplicity, here everything is right or wrong. The main motive is about being right. The world seems simple, there is us who are good and them that are evil.

The second stage is complexity. The clarity has blurred, and the focus is now on success and failure. The world is divided between winners and losers, and we are the winners. There is also an increasing independence. Doubt is a problem to be solved.

The third stage is perplexity. Honesty opens one up to the complexities of the faith. One begins to see their own bias, and begin facing inconvenient truths. Black and white has blended into shades of gray. Life has now become a quest for the true and the real, with an appreciation for mystery. Critical thinking becomes a vital skill. Doubt is now a virtue, not a problem. It is the doorway to truth.

The fourth stage is harmony. To reach an integral spirituality that is holistic and balanced is the goal. But the journey is long and painful. The interconnected nature of reality is realized, compassion and humility become actualized in one’s life. Knowledge about becomes knowledge of. Doubt is seen as a necessary part of life, living, and spiritual growth. There is an openness to mystery. Not everything can or should be explained.

The vast majority of Christians do not grow beyond simplicity. They are not ready to be unplugged from society’s programming. They are content to live in the dream world of illusion. Likewise, they are unconscious, automated people living out their lives in oblivion. The lights are on, but nobody is home.

Complexity is the first step towards perplexity. Jesus said, “Whoever seeks shouldn’t stop until they find. When they find, they’ll be disturbed. When they’re disturbed, they’ll be amazed, and reign over the All” (GTh 2). Or to rephrase a saying of Christ’s, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you very uncomfortable.” But there is always pain before a child is born.

Refernces
Brian D, McLaren, Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What To Do About It, New York: Essentiaks, 2021.