How do RELIGIOUS ETHICS relate to the STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT? (See details.)?

Question

Kohlberg described 6 stages in moral development:

Level 1 (Pre-Conventional)
1. Obedience & punishment orientation (Do it or suffer)
2. Self-interest orientation (What's in it for me?)

Level 2 (Conventional)
3. Interpersonal accord & conformity (The good boy/good girl attitude)
4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation (Law and order morality)

Level 3 (Post-Conventional)
5. Social contract orientation (Greatest good for the greatest number)
6. Universal ethical principles (Principled conscience)

When you consider the moral teachings of your particular faith, doctrine, or discipline, how do their teachings fit into the particular stages of moral development described by Dr. Kohlberg?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlberg%27s_stages_of_moral_development

Answer 1

while there are obvious parallels with each other, i believe that the progession of moral development and religious reasonings work independent of each other. what kohlberg theorized was that our state of self-awareness tends to be synonomous (to a degree) with our age. however, i think our social environment can be an inhibitor or capacitator to our moral development, and even kohlberg theorized that these stages can digress. basically with age comes wisdom. i have been a christian all my life, religious ethics were considerably constant the entire time, my progression of reasoning and understanding of religious ethics grew with age.

im probably between stage four and five right now. i don't think religion, plays much part. each stage can be subdivided by the perceptional spectrum. its ignorant to say that an athiest and a christian both cannot operate at a level five. opinions and belief are all points of view.

Answer 2

I don't know that there is any kind of short answer, but I'm putting a link to a book called "Moral Development Foundations - Judeo-Christian Alternatives to Piaget/Kohlberg" down. It's not by a single author but has numerous articles/chapters where the authors have done significant work with Piaget/Kohlberg in a Christian frame of reference.

You might also look into "Foundations of Christian Formation" by Adrian Van Kaam and Susan Muto.

Answer 3

To simplify everything, if the parents hold to a particular set of morals, they will of course teach the same to their children. Of course.