The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith

by Janet O. Hagberg, Robert A. Guelich

The Critical Journey, at its core, is a description of the spiritual journey: our response to our faith in God with the resulting changes that follow. In this book, authors Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich address the following issues: the struggle to find meaning and wholeness, the crisis of values and identity at mid-life, the quest for self-actualization, the healing of early religious experiences, and questions about the spiritual journey. Their goal is to help us understand where we are on our individual faith journeys and also appreciate where others are in theirs. The Critical Journey does not reveal exactly how or when we need to move along in our personal pilgrimages, nor does it offer formulas for spiritual growth. Rather, it describes six phases of the spiritual journey and illustrates how people act and think while in these stages. This is an excellent guide for those who are wrestling with their faith and wondering how others have resolved their “dark nights of the soul.” Here is an answer for those who have wondered why everyone doesn’t respond in the same manner to the message of the Gospel.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Faith, Nonfiction, Discipleship, Christian Living, Leadership

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1989

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book! I read this for a class on Christian Spiritual Formation and as soon as I was a couple chapters in I began to wish I had come upon it much sooner. The authors describe the progression a person of faith may go through over the course of their lives, offering input on what can help someone at each stage grow, and how someone might become stuck.

Personally, I found this book IMMENSELY helpful, having felt stuck myself for a while in a sort of spiritual doldrums, a "dark night of the soul" in the words of St. John of the Cross. This book pinpointed me in Stage 4, facing "the wall." Just seeing my experience written down on the page was immensely helpful, as was the advice the book gave on how to move forward. This advice matched in many ways the guidance and challenge I was already beginning to perceive in my own times of prayer and reflection, and brought some clarity and understanding to them. I might have saved myself quite a bit of frustration and self-accusation had I read this book a year ago, but I'm grateful at least to have come across it now.

This has been, perhaps, the most personally helpful book I've read in a LONG time, and will go down in my personal history as having played a key role in a turning point for me. The two other books that have shared that place this season have been Richard Rohr's book on the Enneagram and David Benner's The Gift of Being Yourself. I can't say that every person will have the same experience of these three books as I have--they are meeting me at a critical stage in my own spiritual development--but for anyone who has been following God for a long time, and experiencing any kind of spiritual plateau-ing or stuck-ness, I strongly recommend them.

It is worth mentioning that The Critical Journey is probably helpful for most Christians to read, regardless of where they are in their growth, given that it will help them identify where they have been and where they may be going. It is also helpful for knowing how to deal with other believers who are at very different stages, which can seem mystifying and even a source of annoyance. This is also highly recommended for people in ministry, like myself, for increasing one's sensitivity about the different stages others may be going through and obtaining ideas about how to help them grow. Otherwise we naturally treat everyone as though they are in the same place as ourselves.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for my Personal Development of the Minister course under Dr. Don Dunn at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Here is the reflection I wrote for class:

This book was very interesting to me as I have never read about the idea of stages of faith before, apart from a simplistic “baby Christian” and “adult Christian” division. While the concepts were helpful in themselves, I was not impressed by the quality of the writing. Additionally, I found the way the authors tried to keep it open to people from other religions, spiritualities, or even secular groups sort of wishy-washy, and I think it drew away from the power of the book and the profoundness of the triune God who leads us through each of these stages. In my view, if they wanted to speak to these other groups, they should have written a book for Christians and then a book for others, but I realize the positive value in what they did. A final critique is that the book sometimes felt a lot like a horoscope you read in a newspaper—broad enough to apply to almost everybody and just specific enough to make you feel like it is talking to you. Perhaps that is a harsh judgment, but by the author’s own admission, the stages run together, are not experienced the same way, and are unique to each person.

Regardless of these criticisms, I did appreciate the general truths of the progression of the spiritual life they observed. Perhaps part of why I struggled so much with the book is that I find myself seemingly spread between several of the stages, which they did say was possible. As someone finding a new identity in the Anglican Church at present, I identify strongly with Stage 2, where I am being given an identity and belonging by a group. However, as I am also a lay leader in our church, I find myself actively in Stage 3, where I am a contributing and valued member who serves the church. Several years ago while in Dr. Lett’s Christian Beliefs class, prior to coming into the Anglican Church, I experienced Stage 4 where I had a severe crisis of faith which shook my strongly held beliefs and assumptions. Right now, however, I also feel I am dipping my toes in Stage 5, where I feel a sense of calling, a focus on others, and an inner stillness and peace. I am certainly not here entirely, retreating often to other stages I know better, but I have strong moments where I sense I have entered this stage.

With all of that said, I most appreciate that this book gave me some language to begin to grasp the general trends in the spiritual life. I do feel that it has helped me come to understand my own walk better and that it will be a valuable tool for defining more clearly where my family, friends, and future congregants are at. With such ability, I may know better how to encourage and support them in the faith journey that God has them on.

[Miriam Nard]

My academic advisor recommended this book for me after I shared some of the struggles I've had with my family of origin.

Unfortunately, I was never able to appreciate the book. While I do agree with most of the insights that Hagberg shared, none of it was supported by scholarly evidence, or Biblical evidence. I constantly felt uneasy by her conclusions, wondering how she had gotten there.

I think this points to a general criticism that I have of airy-fairy spiritual directors. There don't seem to be any standards required to practice spiritual direction, nor is there much in the way of training and/or study required for qualification. I totally get that the Holy Spirit can often be the SOLE support we need for anything, but requiring at least minimal standards of evidence and scholarly thought processes can prevent abusive spiritual direction practices.

I am definitely not accusing Janet Hagberg of anything other than failing to support her insights. I'm sure she is a wonderful, Spirit-led spiritual director. I just wish she had articulated the logic for her conclusions a little more clearly.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique book that presents a model for understanding the life of faith in six stages. I found the model itself compelling and think it realistically reflects patterns in people's spiritual development (including my own). The list of characteristics for each stage mostly ring true and the descriptions of how people can become "caged" in each particular stage were especially insightful. Less helpful, in my opinion, were the authors attempts to provide biblical examples of the various stages. Some of these perhaps worked, but (as is almost always the cases with models read back into Scripture) it often felt like eisegesis, not exegesis. Something that would have helped the book was deeper grounding in the church's rich history of spiritual literature. There are a few good quotes sprinkled in, but a real mastery of this literature would surely have made this a better book. It's also somewhat dated now and some of the final chapters feel like appendices. Another critique would be the rather thin theological underpinnings of the book. While it is broadly evangelical, it speaks with an ecumenical tone and more or less ignores many theological truths that impinge on one's spiritual experience. Finally, I would say the literary quality of the book is only average. This isn't a book where words leap off the page. All critiques aside, I am glad I read this book and plan to return to it to keep learning this model and thinking through these stages. I'd be curious to know if anyone has built on this work with more historical or clinical research. If you know of something out there, please message me.

[Milan Homola · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have experienced angst, doubts, discouragement in your faith journey soak in this book. It is not a quick read. This is one of those rare spiritual development books that is shaped by decades of real experience and thoughtfulness. If you want fluffy quick fixes for the spiritual life this is it for you. This book explains the stages of faith that standard churches help so well with and the other stages of faith that seem totally foreign to standard church. This is very important.

[Ben Fair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely helpful as a teaching pastor to understand where different people may be at and what they may be going through. I’m going to have to read it again and again I think!

[Rachel Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a little known, oddly expensive book, but it is worth every penny, and I’ve already recommended it to half a dozen people. Knowing that the stages we go through, especially questions and doubts and struggles and the reshaping of our faith, are not unusual or off the beaten path, but a part of it - and how it all fits together to help us grow deeper with God. Sometimes it looks and feels like we’re moving backwards, but the framework of this book shows how it’s not backwards at all.

[Kasey Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no doubt the framework this book offers will remain important for me through the rest of my life. I didn’t particularly enjoy a lot of it while reading it, and yet it’s a book where it’s long term influence on me will far outweigh the “in the present” experience of it. Very glad to have picked it up!

[Tim Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very necessary book to help those on a spiritual journey understand the various stages and roadblocks that undoubtedly will come.

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a timely gift in my life. I can’t remember where I first heard about it, but the title kept showing up in conversations, podcasts, and other books. When my faith came to a new bend in the road (The Wall at stage 4 described in this book) I didn’t seem to have mentors, definitions, nor direction for what was happening. I felt unmoored, to say the least. Then I found myself in the pages of this book. I wasn’t trying to match up and label myself with something I read, rather what I read matched up with and gave language to what I was already experiencing. Mainly I began to realize this was a necessary piece of my journey, and rather than being frightened by it I could welcome and be curious about what God is doing. I’ve continued to wish for real life mentors along this journey, but this book has been the next best thing.

[Steven Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking and insightful read into the most critical journey: faith. This book has been compelling to read, perhaps even moreso within a group setting. I think it's profound to be able to relate so deeply to each person's unique journey, helping to show we are not as alone as some of the stages can feel. I think my biggest critique ultimately comes from myself, a desire to gamify (compete) and move through the stages quickly. But the author anticipates this and repeatedly reminds us that each stage has equal access to God, and each stage is important within the life of a believer.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m afraid nothing will top Fowler’s Stages of Faith for me, but this was a good bonus reading. I enjoyed the authors and getting to hear about their own faith journeys. Love the stage theories and will be referencing this in the future !

[Andrew Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone on the journey of following Jesus.

[Sydney ask · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt like going through someone’s notes app on their phone. Very random and disorganized.

[Jon Anderson]

Timely and insightful. Chapters and sections on The Wall are exceptional

[Candace Blackwelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, thoughtful, and nuanced resource!

[Joshua Pankey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has essential wisdom for how counseling and community tie into deeper spiritual development.

[Bekah Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have referenced this resource so many times over the years.

[Sarah Pascual · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors do a great job clarifying and defining the various stages of the spiritual journey, including an in-depth description of personal faith crises. This was great for my own reflection and will also offer lots of support and guidance for me as I continue offering spiritual direction and care to others.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book and has been so helpful and instructive. Faith isn’t a one time get there and stay there event, but rather a journey that weaves in and out of what appears to others and even to ourselves as seasons of nearness and distance from the GOD we love and others in our faith communities. I heartily recommend this one to anyone who is interested in living out a vibrant and deepening relationship with Jesus.

[Tamara Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the sum total of the parts of each book I read for my certification a helpful clarification to some ambiguous feelings I’d harbored about the use of the word “journey” when describing one’s faith. In a recent conversation with my sister, I mentioned this dissonance and she said, “You’d better get use to that word because it’s going to come up all the time in spiritual direction training!”

With special attention to The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, what became clearer for me are the concrete mile markers that flesh out the more abstract notion of a journey. It’s the abstract that felt a bit dangerous to me, too open for individual interpretation and, therefore, a false understanding of Christian faith and discipleship. With more clarity (heightened by the overlap of agreement among the various readings) on the universal stages of a faith journey, I can now understand the term better as an individual timeline within a communal pathway (most simply described by Christ in John 14:6). I have a better appreciation for the Holy Spirit’s leadership to initiate and fuel the stages along the journey which creates a Christian counter to the nebulous journey of self-actualization described in the dominant culture.

“The Wall, a dark and sacred place, reeks of God. In the Wall we are vulnerable enough to listen to what God says - whether it is in the guise of other people’s voices, God’s voice, or serendipitous experiences. Once we believe that God is in the midst of the darkness with us, it can be a transforming place. We don’t necessarily get cured or erase our pain or become saints, but we learn how to embrace our pain, how to stay with it and learn what it is trying to teach us, how to look fear in the ace and keep moving into it. The Wall invites us each to heal.”


“The Wall invites us to integrate our spiritual selves with the rest of us. And that involves facing our own and others’ demons. We must face that which we fear the most, and that is why it is fo unsavory, and why so many people only enter the Wall under duress. At the Wall we are usually asked to embrace our illnesses and addictions and to relinquish that which we’ve clung to our which we worship. We encounter oceans of unresolved grief covered by anger, bitterness, martyrdom, hurt, or fear. The Wall is a place where we confront the desire to deny or disguise the inner self and begin to mentor the true self - the self God intended for us - and to recognize the meaning of our shadow.”

[Elizabeth Forshee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may be one of the most painful books I've ever read because it reveals the sad state of the American church and her view of spiritual growth/discipleship. If you want to understand how malformation happens in the church, stages 1-3 will explain. If you want to understand why people are deconstructing faith, leaving the church and are disillusioned by the church in America, then the first three stages will explain. For me this way of looking at the spiritual journey is exactly what you should not do. It is the tale of the American Evangelical experience of church. It is not a classical view of the spiritual journey, nor it is a view of the Christian journey based on being a part of the historical Biblical narrative. It is the very narrow journey of the Western, utilitarian Christian who has built church based on western cultural values of success rather than the life of Christ. If you want a better book on the Christian spiritual journey, read An Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland.

What is somewhat helpful about this book is looking at "The Wall" we all hit when our faith starts to crumble. It does explain some of the nuances of how to face the hurt, darkness, and anger when you get there. So if you have been hurt, are facing a break down of faith, questioning what you believe, this book will bring some consolation as you face that journey. The authors understand this very well and give practical stories from themselves and others.

Overall, the book is not well written and is based around the idea of "personal power" which is tied to the author's other books. It is not clear why looking at the faith journey in this stance of power is important, perhaps if you've read her book, Real Power, it would make sense, I am not sure. The stance seems rather self-focused.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Critical Journey portrays the life of faith in dynamic rather than static terms. It recognizes that what faith means can change over time. Hagberg and Guelich outline a six stage journey of faith beginning with the Recognition of God (1), The Life of Discipleship (2), The Productive Life (3), The Journey Inward (4), The Journey Outward (5), and The Life of Love (6). The authors emphasize that these stages don't reflect a greater closeness to God as one progresses but rather a different experience of the God with whom we all enjoy the same access. Nor are these stages that we progress through once and for all but rather that we may cycle through these again and again.

Most significant in this book is the author's discussion of "The Wall" during Stage 4. During "The Wall" our will meets God's will and the challenge is whether we will flee from the discomfort of this stage or lean into this process and allow God to lead us into surrender and awareness of our acceptance and God's unconditional love. One of the things I also appreciated in this book related to this is the discussion of stage 4 when questioning and doubt resurfaces. In my work with graduate students, I discover that this stage can coincide with grad school where the formational and intellectual engagement of grad school challenge the prior understanding of faith and practice formed in prior years. It is also interesting to me that the authors observe that most churches and ministries do well with stages 1 to 3.

So one of the real questions for me is what does it mean for our ministry to be a stage 4 to 6 ministry--one that doesn't sacrifice the discipleship and mission emphases of earlier stages but addresses the less conventional but vital work of stage 4 and the Wall and beyond?

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

There seems to have been a trend, at sometime in the not-so-distant-past, to really meld psychological processes and Christianity. I read - and really liked - Wild at Heart, which was a prime example of this. I have read multiple others that I didn't like. The Critical Journey is definitely one of those kinds of books. It takes a very stage based and psychological approach to one's spiritual development.

The framework they use is fine. it all makes sense. I've experienced most everything they describe. What I struggled with here is that this is a really shallow analysis. I read this book in 2 hours. I have an idea about what the stages are, but i'm not sure what to do with that information. If there is more out there, then I think this is a really interesting framework in how people develop their faith. If this is all there is in this line of thinking, then I think there's a danger in creating psuedo-psychologist-pastors.

[Roger Scherping · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know where they gets their points from. They present really no spiritual, scholarly, or Biblical evidence for anything they say. I get that they are very spiritual people, but it's all kind of wishy-washy and feels completely made up. For example, underpinning the entire book is their assumption that literally everyone in the world is like them in that their entire lives are totally dedicated to connecting with God and completely devoting their lives to Him, which may be true for others to varying degrees. I think they are presenting nothing but their opinions, which may or may not gibe with yours. It didn't feel like it gave a lot of spiritual direction.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was a bit critical when it came to the idea that there are 'stages of faith', but reading Hagberg and Guelich, there certainly does seem to be a common denominator within our personal experience of growth. They talk about the overlap and 'revisiting' of stages and their assessment rings true. The stages of faith are not unique to any one tradition or religion, but rather seem to be universal to human experience, though it is also common to get stuck at a certain stage. This book is very helpful for getting an overview of what the stages look like, obstacles to growth and triggers that become pathways to the next stage. Very intriguing read.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spiritual Growth - Must Read

This book is an absolute must read for anyone serious about understanding spiritual growth and helping others navigate the journey. This is an excellent approach to stage theory that is accessible for anyone. It would be a helpful tool for discovering and becoming comfortable with different stages in the spiritual journey, realizing that all are important and we can appreciate the differences we might see in ourselves and others as a result in being in different stages on the journey.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me make sense of my spiritual journey. I'm not sure what my next chapter is going to look like, but I know that my faith is clearly entering what Richard Rohr calls second half of life spirituality. This book was a great follow up to Rohr's Falling Upward.
Critical Journey takes a developmental look at faith and gave me a great framework to understand why people seem to get stuck. Very helpful.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hagberg and Guelich provide an overview along with example case studies of stages in the life of faith. They also provide characteristics of each stage, some questions to ponder, things that tend to hold us back from growing, and testimonials in each stage. I found it very helpful not only for myself but as I was reading I noticed how helpful this was in terms of ministry with students I work with.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some very helpful information and I deeply appreciate the way the authors normalize some of the very difficult experiences that are nearly universal in the journey of faith. I struggle with the progressivist narrative that drives the linear movement through the journey and wish that stories of navigating the journey toward Christ included transitions between stories, but all in all this is vital reading for those leading ministry.