Critiquing Faith Development Theory and Its Measurements from An Islamic Perspective

Authors : Üzeyir Ok, Carsten Gennerich

Pages : 121-143

Doi:10.53112/tudear.1556541

View : 82 | Download : 87

Publication Date : 2024-12-28

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :The Faith Development Theory (FDT), primarily grounded in cognitive development models, has made significant contributions to the understanding of religiosity and has explained the role of the human factor in the developmental trajectories of religion and spirituality. After James Fowler\\\'s original study, the theory was extended and revised by subsequent international researchers in terms of its theoretical framework, research instruments, and empirical findings. However, it has seldom been critiqued from an intercultural perspective. This study aims to critically evaluate both the conceptualization of FDT and the instruments used to measure it. An iterative, reflective critical review of related literature was employed as the research method in this theoretical study. The findings from the literature review suggest that the use of terms like “faith” or “religiosity” within FDT can be misleading and may create tensions between theology and psychology. It is argued that dimensions such as indifference to religion, doubt, and forms of conjunctive faith in religious contexts should be integrated into the theory. Furthermore, FDT\\\'s focus on cognitive structural development has led to the neglect of the interior dimensions of religiosity, including levels of commitment and emotional aspects. Additionally, FDT appears less relevant for analysing Muslim contexts. Finally, the theory promotes a secular approach to religious development, with “developed” stages predominantly reflecting a Eurocentric, Enlightenment-oriented perspective on religiosity.
Keywords : inanç gelişimi, dindarlık, stiller, Müslüman, Eleştiri