Four Stages of Spiritual Development
Stage I: Chaotic, antisocial. A stage of undeveloped spirituality. The Stage 1 person is selfish, disordered, and generally incapable of loving others.
Stage II: Formal, institutional. The stage II person, typified by many churchgoers, is usually attached to the forms rather than the essence of her religion, and she may quickly take offense at anyone who attacks these forms. Personal stability and outward appearances are very important to her.
Stage III: Skeptic, individual. The stage III person is often referred to as a “nonbeliever” because he has given up being “conventional”. He thinks independently and is often deeply involved in social causes. An advanced stage III individual is an active truth-seeker.
Stage IV: Mystic, communal. This is the stage of unity. A person arriving at stage 4 sees an underlying connectedness between herself, other creatures, and her surroundings. With little or no outside prodding, and as a confident yet humble, self governing human being, she reaches out to others in recognition of the whole world as part of her community. “Mystics” comprehend the value of emptiness. Rather than being frightened by the enormity of the unknown, they acknowledge it and immerse themselves even deeper into it, that they may understand more.
The Different Drum
M. Scott Peck
2007-02-19 21:52:05 · 3 answers · asked by Vlasko 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What do I think? It's well written.
I like the way it flows through the various stages, from "of course, I know people like that (or, I could fit them into that category), through to the Yes, of course, that's where I am (or would ideally see myself)".
As I read it, I had a strange feeling that there wasn't something entirely right with this. It's just a bit too simplistic, and appealing to my own narcissism.
I don't trust things that immediately 'feel' right. Maybe I'm cynical.
Maybe I just believe there's a hidden catch.
It's a lovely piece of prose, but something about it doesn't sit right with me.
It's a bit too easy, a bit too immediate.
I feel like it's answering a difficult question as though it was fast food. Here's your answer, you don't have to think, Would you like fries with that?
2007-02-19 22:14:04 · answer #1 · answered by busted.mike 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen you post this before. I find it quite interesting... certainly it is compatable with my views...
2007-02-19 21:57:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They're not useful if they don't apply, and they sound too formulaic to apply to very many people.
2007-02-19 21:58:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋