Fowler's faith development theory is a relatively recent achievement in cognitive developmental psychology, based on the earlier work of Piaget and Kohlberg in cognitive and moral development, and is a significant contribution to the integration of theology and psychology. In this article, an attempt is made to acquaint the reader with (a) some major reasons for the scientific study of faith development, (b) a brief history of the contributions of theorists prior to Fowler, and (c) a basic understanding of faith development theory, in terms of the concepts and stages described by Fowler. In conclusion, several implications of Fowler's work for psychotherapists and religious educators are discussed.
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