The journey is not a linear progression, but rather a circle in which God is at the centre, and people at each stage on the perimeter are loved and cared for equally.
Janet Hagberg & Robert Guelich
The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith
What is The Critical Journey?
A Spiritual Map for Growth
Just as physical maps guide us to our destinations, The Critical Journey provides a framework for navigating the stages of spiritual growth. This paradigm helps individuals deepen their faith by understanding key transition points, including "The Wall"—a significant hurdle often experienced as a crisis of faith. By exploring these stages, we can grow closer to God and rediscover our true selves.
Origins
Developed in the 1980s and 1990s by Janet Hagberg, a spiritual director and social activist, and Robert Guelich, a Fuller Seminary professor, The Critical Journey was created to address the complexities of modern spirituality.
The Six Stages of Faith
The journey is broken into six stages:
Recognition of God
The Life of Discipleship
The Productive Life
The Journey Inward (includes The Wall, an obstacle, not a stage)
The Journey Outward
The Life of Love
These stages offer a roadmap for personal reflection, spiritual growth, and greater intimacy with God.
Resources
I’ve designed a fantasy-style map to visually represent the six stages of faith, making them easy to understand and engaging. This resource is perfect for teaching Faith Stages to individuals and teams in a creative, memorable way. If you’d like to book a seminar or workshop on The Critical Journey, please fill out the Contact form and select "The Critical Journey."
You can also download The Critical Journey Map and Cheat Sheet for a small fee—just click the images below!
The Critical Journey - Map Cheat Sheet
The Critical Journey Map