Five Phases of Conversion
January 13, 2009
This is too good to pass up. Follow the link to MetaLutheran for an explanation and for me to be respectful of copyrights, even if he is wrong and evil, apostate and heretic, a fellow brother in Christ, or whatever phase I’m in.
Phase 1: The Cage Phase
Phase 2: Addiction
Phase 3: Apostle of Renewal
Phase 4: Beaten by Reality
Phase 5, Option 1: The Rat Leaves the Ship
Phase 5, Option 2: Complete Disillusionment
Phase 5, Option 3: Partial Disillusionment and Accommodation
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As a convert, things are rather different, and odd, with me. My conversion was intellectual, and, as with many, came from studying the patristics. However, the more I studied them the more I realized that, even in the Church, there will always be problems, difficulties, and reasons for someone to be conflicted, if one looked for it. But I had a different side, an inter-religious, mythic interest (ala the Inklings) which kept me looking beyond the Church, looking at how what is outside points to the Church, however problematic things are within the Church. So I’ve always had an ability to gain from the external while believing the Church is the vehicle for salvation. It allows me to react differently to problems within the Church from others — to look for solutions from “outside” and see the problems as an indication of the “outside” having something still needed “inside” (temporally, since eschatologically, the fullness is within).
I found it more humorous than anything else. Having been down the road twice, I can’t say I’ve followed the precise regime myself. When I had become a Baptist, I definately had a Stage 1. I became disillusioned in Stage 2 though and moved straight to Stage 5-Option 1. Coming back to the Catholic faith, I had my angry stage. About 2 years ago I finished stage 3.
If I understand degrees of being naughty correctly, I believe I am an apostate., whereas Lutherans are mere heretics :D
Oh yeah, and this of course: Phase 5, Option 1: The Rat Leaves the Ship (or the “bark of Peter”, as it were)
This list is insightful, in that it describes short-lived or misguided conversions pretty well. But I don’t think it describes a persevering conversion very well. It doesn’t describe the saints. Saints don’t give in to the world and its weeds. Saints don’t accommodate or stagnate in faith. They endure.
John of the Cross described the Dark Night of the Senses and the Dark Night of the Soul as the period of time where our faith undergoes purification, where we no longer “feel” that same zeal or energy that we had at first, or even the presence of God. A stage 6: The Darkness.
But for those of us who aren’t saints, who have reverted to stage 0 – unconverted – who have just grown luke-warm, who have simply succumbed to the world’s temptations (rather then embarking upon an advanced spiritual quest), for those of us who have truly “accommodated” to disillusionment . . . God save us! God forbid that we wallow in accommodation! It’s probably a good time to get to confession, admit our mediocrity, open our bibles back up, start serving the poor, get to daily mass, get a spiritual adviser, get on our knees, and pray and beg for the holy fire to love God and one another. And when none of that seems to ‘work’, we endure in hopeful patience, trusting that God is still with us, still saving us.
Time to follow my own advice.
Interesting.
I appreciate your description of your perspective Henry. Good points Nate. Time to get moving before the baby comes. ;-)
JB — there are, to be sure, more elements to my theological makeup than what I wrote here (as I wrote in my post today, there is an element of personal context which makes it difficult for others to share the same context I am coming from) — but, I think these elements are an important philosophical aspects behind what I do, and something which can be more easily discussed than other aspects of my own theological context.
What’s interesting to me is the parallel between this mode of conversion (assuming it is not just a caricature in excess) and the disillusionment that often accompanies mass consumerism, also called buyers remorse.
Nate hit the nail on the head – if there is any truth to the list, it points to a rather superficial conversion, guided, I would add, by “principles” of thought/interpretation absorbed from the ‘market-mentality’. Conversion in this sense treats a religious experience as if it were a commodity intended to render a perpetual psyche-trip of transcendental illumination, not just in the convert but with the expectation that it will always be found in all members of the new community. The moment that the normal cycles of mundane life kick in the “trip” ends, and the let down kicks in.
True faith, it seems to me, follows a vastly different “system” of conversion, happening on a daily basis, rooted deeply within the mundane happenings of daily life. It doesn’t leap from “trip” to “trip” like some drug addict seeking a new “high”. It understands deeply, painfully, unapologetically that true conversion involves daily small steps toward Calvary, carrying a cross of utter mediocrity, accepting the utter irrelevance of one’s life and in that finally seeing its infinite relevance. One thinks of the Ignatian mantra of finding God in all things.
The hardest thing for a human being to do is to accept his or her own humanity. It seems like some conversion cycles are merely attempts to flee the beautiful irrelevance of one’s life, the thought often being: “finally, HERE I have found my relevance!” or some such thing.
Pax Omni
Coversion?
‘It understands deeply, painfully, unapologetically that true conversion involves daily small steps toward Calvary, carrying a cross of utter mediocrity, accepting the utter irrelevance of one’s life and in that finally seeing its infinite relevance. One thinks of the Ignatian mantra of finding God in all things.’
Beautifully and meanly said!!!
Ok. I thought it was hilarious and could completely relate. I think by Phase 5 Option 3, it is moving from an infant’s perspective on Faith and moving into a more teenage/adult faith experience.
Maybe that’s why Christ called us to become like little children? I’d rather have an “infant” faith than have any disillusionments about Christ and His Good News. Folks that put their faith in mere men will always experience disillusionment; Christ never disappoints.
Jesus talks about phase 5 this way:
“Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.”