The Way Through The Trees: An Introduction to Faith Development

Throughout history, Christians have reached for a variety of metaphors to try and understand and explain the journey of discipleship. The Way Through the Trees presents a case for the concept of development in faith through engagement with scripture, the Christian Tradition and modern theology. It it, Sarah Brush also offers an important introduction to some of the multiple ways of understanding faith development which predominate today – from the single trajectory approach described by Fowler or Rohr, to the cyclical pattern identified by McLaren. Demonstrating how scripture supports the concept of faith as not a simple, one-off conversion but of continuing discipleship, The Way Through the Trees explores the way faith grows through wisdom from the Christian Tradition alongside the most significant modern models of faith development, newly categorised in three groups according to the movement of faith within the models. Through exploring the various existing models and the new narrative metaphor, and culminating in a new model which draws from all that has preceded it, the book seeks to equip people in understanding their own faith journey and support others in theirs.

About the Author :
Sarah Brush is a Theological Educator and Practical Theologian at Ripon College Cuddesdon with a background in Medieval History and Youth Ministry. She enjoys creativity in various forms.

Review :
Sarah Brush provides an authoritative overview of the complex field of faith development theories, deftly exposing both the insights and limitations of each school of research. Her own creative model adds an accessible and thought-provoking contribution to a rich field of study. A remarkable scholarly achievement. Understanding the nature and processes of how faith develops is a complex piece of theological geography populated by a wide variety of competing voices, concepts, metaphors and propositions. Unsurprisingly our long history of Christian tradition and discipleship has attracted a wealth of wisdom about the inner and outer life of discipleship. Sarah Brush proves herself to be an adept, playful, creative and generative guide to the geography of faith development theories and styles. The genius of this book is the independence of her judgment, the clarity of her analysis and the playfulness with which she invites her reader into exploring how this landscape might excite, nurture and grow faith. This book and guide needs to find its way onto core reading lists for anyone who needs to be resourced to dig deeper into the forest and adventure of faith. It is practical theology at its very best. The Way Through the Trees should be the new starting-point for faith development theory and practice. Sarah Brush’s forensic analysis of the breadth of the existing literature, and her innovative, organic model, offer a deeply-rooted and richly fruitful way of moving beyond linear thinking, and doing justice to the complexity and seasonality of nurturing and growing faith, all the way from seed to composting. I’m so glad Sarah Brush took my seed of a suggestion that she develop her short and exploratory MA dissertation into a substantial book. And what a book! At a time when faith development research and theory are, perhaps, somewhat on the decline, Sarah’s book brings them back into the centre of concern for researchers, teachers and ministers alike. Wide-ranging, well-researched and tested by experience, as well as highly readable, this is set to become a go-to handbook on faith development which will be of immense value to students, scholars and practitioners. I learnt a great deal from it and expect to return to it often. Sarah’s own model of faith development as a growing tree moving through the cycle of the seasons incorporates insight from many other models, while adding new wisdom.