Erikson’s developmental theory has been used to describe spiritual issues faced at each stage, to explore possible religious or spiritual pathologies that might arise at each stage, and to discuss what optimal spiritual development might look like at each stage. But, this article extends the use of Erikson’s theory to describe spiritual development by reflecting on the characteristics and tasks that might define various stages that would follow a “new birth,”issues that might arise at each stage, and the role of pastors (or spiritual caregivers) in nurturing spiritual development and discerning issues that characterize each stage. In Erikson’s theory, there are eight stages which has strengths and weakness in each stage: The Infant(trust vs. mistrust), early childhood (autonomy vs. shame and doubt), play age(initiative vs. guilt), school age(industry vs. inferiority), adolescence(identity vs. identity confusion), young adulthood(intimacy vs. isolation), and middle and later adulthood. At each stage, psycho-socio characteristics, and spiritual characteristics is defined. And the role of pastor is suggested: to discern the beliefs and behaviors that signal struggles with each stage, and to nurture the person through positive resolution of these issues. Erikson’s stages of human development provide a lens through which to visualize spiritual development and to identify some of the actions and thinking that might leave Christians stuck in their spiritual growth. The defining characteristics of each stage can help pastors (or spiritual leaders) assess the various stages and a person’s progress through them, as well as suggest ways of working with the issues of each stage. This article will help pastors find Christians’wrong beliefs and behaviors at each stage and assist them in moving toward positive resolution of the various crises.

Erikson’s developmental theory has been used to describe spiritual issues faced at each stage, to explore possible religious or spiritual pathologies that might arise at each stage, and to discuss what optimal spiritual development might look like at each stage. But, this article extends the use of Erikson’s theory to describe spiritual development by reflecting on the characteristics and tasks that might define various stages that would follow a “new birth,”issues that might arise at each stage, and the role of pastors (or spiritual caregivers) in nurturing spiritual development and discerning issues that characterize each stage. In Erikson’s theory, there are eight stages which has strengths and weakness in each stage: The Infant(trust vs. mistrust), early childhood (autonomy vs. shame and doubt), play age(initiative vs. guilt), school age(industry vs. inferiority), adolescence(identity vs. identity confusion), young adulthood(intimacy vs. isolation), and middle and later adulthood. At each stage, psycho-socio characteristics, and spiritual characteristics is defined. And the role of pastor is suggested: to discern the beliefs and behaviors that signal struggles with each stage, and to nurture the person through positive resolution of these issues. Erikson’s stages of human development provide a lens through which to visualize spiritual development and to identify some of the actions and thinking that might leave Christians stuck in their spiritual growth. The defining characteristics of each stage can help pastors (or spiritual leaders) assess the various stages and a person’s progress through them, as well as suggest ways of working with the issues of each stage. This article will help pastors find Christians’wrong beliefs and behaviors at each stage and assist them in moving toward positive resolution of the various crises.

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