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A Transformative Moment
Dueck, G.R.
2017
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Dueck, G. R. (2017). A Transformative Moment.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Setting the Scene: Methodological and Contextual Considerations ... 1
1.1 Introduction ... 1
1.2 Methodological Considerations... 3
1.2.1 On Contextual and Practical Theology ... 5
1.2.2 On (Interpretive) Practical Theology ... 7
1.3 Contextual Considerations ... 9
1.3.1 Canadian Distinctives ... 10
1.3.2 Mennonite Brethren Distinctives ... 12
1.4 Conclusion ... 28
2A Longer Journey to Maturity? Exploring The Delayed Adulthood Thesis ... 30
2.1 Introduction ... 30
2.1.1 The Delayed Adulthood Thesis Defined ... 31
2.1.2 Divergent Assessments of the Delayed Adulthood Thesis ... 36
2.2 Theoretical Approaches to Human Development ... 38
2.2.1 Psychological Perspectives ... 40
2.2.2 Sociological Perspectives... 56
2.3 Conclusion: Discerning a Developmental Trajectory ... 72
3A Contested Stage on the Journey: Exploring The Theory of Emerging Adulthood ... 74
3.1 Introduction ... 74
3.2 Emerging Adulthood Defined ... 75
3.2.1 An Individualized Approach to Adulthood ... 78
3.2.2 Components of the Theory... 81
3.3 Critical Perspectives ... 97
3.3.1 The Political Economy Perspective ... 99
3.3.2 Dynamic Systems Theory ... 102
3.3.3 So Is Emerging Adulthood a Life Stage? ... 105
3.4 Conclusion ... 107
4Dropping Out While Leaving Home? Assessing Religious Disengagement in Emerging Adulthood ... 109
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4.2 The Crisis of Emerging Adult Faith? ... 109
4.2.1 According to the Numbers ... 111
4.2.2 Contributing Factors ... 113
4.2.3 Assessing the Damage ... 116
4.2.4 A Realistic Assessment ... 123
4.3 The Context of Emerging Adult Faith... 124
4.3.1 Developmental Factors: Autonomy and Differentiation ... 124
4.3.2 Cultural-Theological Factors: Individualism ... 130
4.4 The Character of Emerging Adult Faith ... 133
4.4.1 Moral Reasoning ... 135
4.4.2 Generational Isolation ... 141
4.4.3 Moralistic Therapeutic Deism... 145
4.5 A “Juvenilized” Faith? ... 153
4.6 Conclusion ... 157
5The Directions Faith Takes: A Critical Engagement With Faith Development Theory ………..159
5.1 Introduction ... 159
5.1.1 Why Faith Development Theory? ... 160
5.1.2 Why Faith Development Theory Now? ... 161
5.2 Faith Development Theory... 163
5.2.1 James Fowler ... 163
5.2.2 What is Faith? ... 169
5.2.3 How Does Faith Develop? ... 174
5.2.4 Unpacking the Stages ... 177
5.3 A Theological Engagement With Faith Development Theory... 192
5.3.1 The Nature of Faith as Meaning Making ... 193
5.3.2 The Object of Faith as Shared Centres of Value and Power... 197
5.4 Appropriating the Contributions of Faith Development Theory ... 203
5.5 Conclusion ... 207
6The Suggestive Mystery of the Human Spirit: Introducing James Loder’s Theological Anthropology ... 209
6.1 Introduction ... 209
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6.2.1 Biographical Outline ... 214
6.2.2 Overview of Loder’s Perspective... 219
6.3 Where is a Person? Loder’s Four-Dimensional Reading of Reality ... 223
6.3.1 The Lived World ... 225
6.3.2 The Self ... 227
6.3.3 The Void ... 230
6.3.4 The Holy ... 233
6.4 What is a Person? ... 238
6.4.1 The Human Spirit as the Image of God ... 238
6.4.2 Human Brokenness and Sin ... 243
6.5 Conclusion ... 246
7The Shape of Christian Change: James Loder’s Transformational Logic and Human Development ... 249
7.1 Introduction ... 249
7.2 Loder and Fowler ... 250
7.2.1 Loder’s Logic of Transformation... 253
7.2.2 Transformation Defined ... 255
7.2.3 Loder’s Transformational Pattern ... 259
7.3 Transformation from Infancy to Young Adulthood ... 273
7.3.1 Negation, Double Negation and Redemption ... 274
7.3.2 Infancy: The Confrontation with Nothingness ... 277
7.3.3 The Toddler: The Root of Freedom ... 278
7.3.4 The School-Age Child: Achievement and Belonging ... 280
7.3.5 The Adolescent: A Theologically Proportionate Identity ... 282
7.3.6 The Young Adult: Covenantal Faithfulness ... 285
7.4 Conclusion ... 292
8Two Transformational Reconsiderations: Integrating Loder’s Theological Vision in Emerging Adult and Canadian Mennonite Brethren Contexts ... 295
8.1 Introduction ... 295
8.2 A Four-Dimensional, Transformational Reading of the Emerging Adult Moment ... 297
8.2.1 The Lived World ... 297
8.2.2 The Self ... 301
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8.2.4 The Holy ... 309
8.3 Transformation In Canadian Mennonite Brethren Context... 316
8.3.1 Transformation: A Load-Bearing Term ... 317
8.3.2 Unpacking a Tacit Definition... 319
8.3.3 Toward a “Thickened” Theology of Transformation ... 325
8.4 Conclusion and Suggestions For Further Research ... 327
