Adolescent Spiritual Development: Stages and Strategies

Joseph Moore

Goals and preconditions. The primary goal of this theory is to foster spiritual development. It is intended for use with adolescents.

Values. Some of the values upon which this theory is based include:

1. the young person as gradually advancing in perfection in (somewhat artificial) stages,
2. fostering spiritual development, especially in adolescents,
3. student-centered, psycho-educational methods.

Methods. These are the major methods this theory offers for each of the three stages of spiritual development:

The Purgative Stage

The goal is to cleanse oneself from a false sense of self, particularly from low self-esteem.

1. Use inventories that "measure" self-esteem as a springboard for discussion about self-worth.
2. Hold retreats for adolescents that deal with self-image and nurture a sense of self-worth.
   1. Have a talk by an older teen or young adult on their own defense mechanisms or "masks" and the destructive power of the flight from self.
   2. Have small-group discussions on their own defenses.
   3. Have students verbalize or write concrete affirmative statements about each other.
3. Have students be members of a peer ministry team to help them feel significant in the lives of others.

The Illuminative Stage

The goal is to help adolescents move from self-preoccupation to establishing and nourishing a relationship with God.

1. Impose a regimen of silence and short periods of meditation.
   1. Use "fantasy trips" and breathing exercises as preludes to meditation.
   2. Use guided meditation until the adolescent is able to meditate on his or her own.
2. Do "scripture sharing" in which a circle of trusting friends read a section of scripture and discuss how it applies in their own lives.
3. Hold a weekend retreat that uses such methods as guided meditation, journal keeping, solitude, scripture sharing, and shared prayer to foster a personal relationship with God.
4. Have an adult mentor or guide assist the adolescent in establishing a personal relationship with God.
   1. The adult needs to initiate the mentoring relationship.

The Unitive Stage

The goal is to help adolescents come to feel at one with God and all his living creation.

1. Provide cultural exposure in groups, entailing direct human interaction with (a) people of a lower income level and/or (b) people having significant differences within the same income level, and have group reflection on the experience.
2. Hold a weekend retreat on topics of social justice, using talks, audio-visual material, and small-group discussion.
3. Expose adolescents to the broad spectrum of social issues by offering them speakers and films on a variety of topics, being sure to communicate the complexity of issues, not just the point of view we would like them to reach.

Major contributions. Holds spiritual development as an important dimension for instructional theory to address. Conceives of stages of spiritual development, each of which requires different methods of instruction.