Join David Tensen as he treks off the beaten path and weaves together spiritual wisdom, personal growth, and fresh perspectives. Each episode invites you to exp...
S02 E07. Stages of Faith. The Critical Journey. My favourite faith journey framework.
In this episode, I explore the six stages of faith from Janet Hagberg and Robert Gulich's book 'The Critical Journey'. Drawing from my personal experiences and nearly three decades of working with people in the faith space, I break down how our faith journey evolves through Recognition of God, Life of Discipleship, Productive Life, Journey Inward (including The Wall), Journey Outward, and Life of Love.
Through stories and insights, I explain why some get stuck at certain stages, how religious institutions often excel at the first three stages but struggle with the later ones, and what propels us forward in our spiritual growth. I share my own decade-long wrestle through The Wall - a pivotal point where our old ways of relating to God no longer work.
This framework offers valuable insights for anyone questioning their faith, feeling stuck, or sensing a call to something deeper. Whether you're serving actively in ministry, deconstructing your beliefs, or seeking authentic spirituality, understanding these stages may just help your path forward.
Critical Journey - Stages of Faith Overview PDF
Further Reading
The Critical Journey by Janet Hagberg and Robert Gulich
Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren
The Wrestle (Poetry Collection) by David Tensen
Nature and the Soul by Bill Plotkin
Previous episode on The Life Model
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1:04:04
S02 E06. The LifeModel. My favourite parenting, developmental, and maturity framework.
Journey through The Life Model - my favorite developmental framework and the most valuable tool I've discovered for raising children. This exploration highlights the critical stages of maturity - from infant to elder - and why understanding these life stages is crucial for personal growth and community wellbeing. Learn why some adults struggle with relationships, how modern parenting philosophies may be holding us back, and what it truly means to become an elder in today's society.
Whether you're a young adult finding your way, a parent seeking wisdom, or someone interested in leaving a lasting legacy, this episode offers profound insights into the journey of human maturation and the vital role of authentic elderhood in our modern world.
Resources Mentioned
LifeModelWorks
Overview worksheet
As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me [email protected], leave a comment or find me on socials.
Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks
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S02 E05. Attachment Theory, Faith and Healing - a conversation with Tara Boothby
We are talking attachment theory today. Lucky for me I have wonderful friend in Canada, Tara Boothby, who runs a psychology and counselling clinic to chat with about it! Tara specialises in attachment theory approaches and had so many wonderful things to share about the theory, faith, family, co-regulation, her new book, and much more. Below is Tara's bio and a link to a 2025 event happening in Canmore, Alberta with some of our favourite people!
Watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5YXpNZ5wpzk
Tara Boothby, Registered Psychologist and Author of "Love and Love's Energy: How Attachment Science Proves That Love Nurtures Our Biological Nature, Impacts Our Positive View of Ourselves, of Others, and of God, and Teaches Us All How to Love."
"Love and Love’s Energy" can be found on Amazon worldwide, Kindle, Indigo.ca, and Barnes and Noble.
Instagram:
Tara Boothby
https://www.instagram.com/tara_boothby/profilecard/?igsh=anpwbGs1eXMwaHVl
Sojourn Psychology
https://www.instagram.com/sojournpsychology/profilecard/?igsh=MTZ5azlsYjJjZG9sbg==
YouTube:
@SojournPsychology
Theology Summit, May 19-22, 2025, Canmore, Alberta:
https://sojo.ca/resources/theology-summit-canmore-may-2025/
#TaraBoothy #attachment #attachmenttheory #psychology #faith #deconstruction #DavidTensen
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S02 E04. Do I call myself Christian - when, where, and why? Exploring Deconstruction and Social Identity Complexity Theory.
The question that sparked this episode from a couple of listeners was: "My faith has evolved. So do I still call myself a Christian - even when others might not?"
Well, this isn't just a faith or religious question, this is an identity question. One that leads to other connected questions like:In what ways can deconstruction reshape our understanding of meaning? Are there practical steps to integrate multiple identities harmoniously?How do environmental influences impact identity development across different stages of life?
In this walk-and-talk we take a look at our how our faith evolves over time and explore reasons why some people manage identities that are complex and open, while others remain low, and often guarded.
You'll have plenty of 'ahaa' moments!
I deep dive into the real origins of deconstruction using Derrida's work (1950s) and use Brewer's Social Identity Complexity theory (2000s) to consider how and why you don't always have to 'be' a Christian - that it depends.
As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me [email protected], leave a comment or find me on socials.
Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks
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S02 E03. Exploring Perspectives pt2 - Your Christian Experience through Ecological Systems Theory
We continue to explore the Christian experience through lenses of different theoretical frameworks.
This episode continues from the last. I do a deep dive into applying Ecological Systems Theory (EST) to religious experience. EST is pretty easy to understand, and everyone will be able to relate - chances are though, you haven't heard it used in this context. But it is super helpful!
Listen in and you'll see how multilayered our lives really are and how we are all affected and surrounded by very complex systems that shape our lives.
Embracing this complexity, may help you become more compassionate and understanding of others - and most importantly, with yourself.
Find charts, details and notes on my blog here: https://davidtensen.com/podcast-s02-e03-exploring-perspectives-pt2-your-christian-experience-through-ecological-systems-theory/
As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me [email protected], leave a comment or find me on socials.
Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks
Join David Tensen as he treks off the beaten path and weaves together spiritual wisdom, personal growth, and fresh perspectives. Each episode invites you to explore the terrain of human experience through a different lens, challenging you to see familiar landscapes of faith and life in new ways. For seekers, questioners, and anyone ready to venture beyond conventional thinking.
Discover more about David, his books, resources and more at www.davidtensen.com\quicklinks
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