The Development of Religious Concepts and Maturity: A Three Stage Model

Abstract

Three Piagetian stages of cognitive development (i.e., preoperational thought, concrete operational thought, and formal operational thought) are proposed as a model consistent with research findings on the development of religious concepts and religious maturity. The research findings of Harms (conception of God; 1944), Deconchy (conception of God; 1965), Elkind (conception of religious denomination; 1961, 1962, 1963), Long, Elkind, and Spilka (conception of prayer; 1967), and Goldman (religious thinking; 1964; 1970) are presented as supporting the three-stage Piagetian model for religious concept development. The research findings of Allen (1965) and Allen and Spilka (1967) concerning consensual (i.e., immature) and committed (i.e., mature) religious orientation are presented as generally supporting the Piagetian model in the area of religious maturity.