At what point did you decide for yourself what you would do about what you were taught as a child? It was at that point that you moved to The Mid Stages of The Seven Stages of Discovering Life's Purpose.
Since the middle of the last century, most people (especially those in developed countries) experience Stage Two – Reject Childhood Teachings – for varied reasons. For some it is a revolt against rules-based teachings which they find too demanding, too constraining, or too arbitrary. Some become disillusioned when they discover that what they were taught lacks proof. Some find ways of thinking that, for them, are new and more sound. For the 85% who were taught religion, many reject it because of the atrocities perpetrated in its name.
What differentiates those who find themselves in Stage Two is what they do about it. Some remain in Stage Two, either ignoring a pursuit of life’s purpose or accepting what they determine to be life’s purpose. Some overcome their rejection and move to Stage Three where they accept what they were taught and pursue it with varying degrees of conviction. Some neither reject nor accept what they were taught, and search, in Stage Four, for a life’s purpose supported by sound, reason-based thinking.
Do you find yourself stuck in Stage Two? You may want to explore new ways of thinking about what you reject and what sounder positions might replace it. Have you moved beyond Stage Two, but are concerned for a loved one who is stuck in Stage Two for reasons you don’t understand? In either case, you may find the fresh thinking you need in the Meaning of Life Video Series.
Prior to the middle of the last century, most people skipped Stage Two and went directly to Stage Three. – Practice Childhood Teachings. Today, some do as well. They may have been unexposed to conflicting positions or have not been persuaded by them. Of these, a few accepted their beliefs with such conviction that they moved directly to Stage Five – Know Creator’s Will and became fervent believers. Are you stuck in Stage Three, lacking the unwavering conviction to get beyond lukewarm? You may find thinking that resolves your doubts and strengthens your belief in the Meaning of Life Video Series.
A few cannot accept teachings unsupported by reasoning and are dissatisfied with simple rejection. As such, they skip Stages Two and Three and go directly to Stage Four – Question Childhood Teachings. Some reach Stage Four, having experienced Stage Two and/or Stage Three and found them no longer satisfying.
Stage Four is extremely demanding but highly rewarding. It may require study of elementary philosophy, extensive reading of the works of agnostics, atheists, spiritualists, apologists and other intellectuals and a dogged pursuit of the many doubts that deep thinking produces. Some abandon this arduous stage and revert to Stage Two or Stage Three. A few succeed in progressing to Stage Five – Know Creator's Will. Are you stuck in Stage Four, saddled by doubts you just can’t resolve? You may find the fresh thinking you need in the Meaning of Life Video Series.
When you escape The Mid Stages, you reach Stage Five – Know Creator's Will.
Del H. Smith conducts research into life’s meaning and is the award-winning author of the AMAZON Best Seller, Discovering Life’s Purpose.