This presentation focuses on the economics of the human condition in the religious sense by defining psychological variables allocated to: (1) ways in which Belief-Faith-Practice (a “trilogy”) serves as a guide on the journey through a devotee’s religious enquiry; (2) a position of progressing through stages of psychological development; and, (3) methods of value clarification of becoming in existentialism. The collective unconscious and archetypical theories of Carl Jung seem to reinforce both the psychological and existential model of Erik Erikson’s “age-stage development” model, which was used by way to plot our religious enquiry data.
In the process of religious enquiry, Gordon Allport’s theories of religious becoming (meditation, belief and thought) are presented. A person in h/his existential pose of gaining a spiritual-economic balance, experiences psychological growth through a series of developmental factors. This matrix foundation is spread across six of Erik Erikson’s Stages of age development, which in this presentation are treated as critical divisions of age/religious transitions. Descriptive elements are identified as Belief, Faith or Practice under each of the six developmental periods to show human and religious characteristics of that period.
In looking at different models of practical applications of existentialism, these are explained from the writings of three (what can be called) “neo-existentialists”, viz. Zen Master Thich Thien-An, J. Krishnamurti and Roger Shinn. I describe their philosophy as out-of-the-ordinary 20th century thought, which I found applies most directly to human development in religious enquiry. This is further emphasized with inclusion of works from three noted poets.
The approach I propose and material I reference are existential to the posture, or pose, of becoming, which can be evaluated in economic transition. These dynamics in the value of religious enquiry are based upon the progress in moving forward to an identified, stronger Belief system. Then the individual settles on articles of Faith which support that system, with feedback to elements of Belief by selected modes of Practice spiritually rewarding to the enquirer.
