My Lighthouse

You’re not Deconstructing, You’re Growing, Part 3

My lighthousе, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthousе, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me safe to shore

Many faith traditions have a final rite of passage in the teenage years when young people fully accept the faith that has been passed down to them as their own.

This inherited faith comes fully constructed. Over the centuries or millennia, other people worked out what it means to be, in this case, Christian, so all we have to do is “accept” it.

The Synthetic-Conventional Stage (stage 3) is defined by conformity to the beliefs and rituals of the community. We trust and obey the Bible, the pastor, the Church, and authority in general.

We might call this group the “Church Christians,” as so much of this faith revolves around the Church. Christians in stages 4 through 6 are also found in churches, but their faith is less dependent on inherited beliefs.

When we think of “Christianity,” this is what we imagine. I suspect that when most people imagine a “Christian civilization,” it is filled with people who “trust and obey.” (I’m sure this applies to other religions and non-religious systems as well.)

Many people will remain in this stage throughout adulthood. Healthy Church Christians grow up going to Sunday school and youth group and have generally positive experiences.

I spent much of my career believing that stage 3 was “real” Christianity. There was a boundary that defined it (certain behaviors and beliefs) and my job was to ensure that everyone stayed inside by offering meaning, purpose, and sometimes, entertainment. I tried to make sure people had positive experiences.

The beliefs and behaviors that define stage 3 vary; for some it’s formal creeds or it might be a view of the Bible. It can look like modesty, kindness, self-control, and contentedness.

Healthy Church Christians are good people, but they risk becoming the good people who allow evil to triumph because when stage 3 is unhealthy, it can be dark and abusive.

Next week, we’ll look at the dark side of the Synthetic-Conventional Stage in part four: Trust and Obey: The Spread of Toxic Christianity.