As the young adult enters the individuative reflective stage of faith development all the symbols, stories, values, meanings and culturally defined ideals come into question and acute critical examination. The saying Question Authority might be used to charecterize this time.
No longer contained by socially defined roles and meanings, the person of individuative reflective faith begins to demythologize and analyze previously accepted attitudes and beliefs. This is a time of deconstruction and re-definition. Clarity, precision and hard won convictions are the fruits of this stage. However, with these gains there are also losses, as Paul Tillich points out that a symbol that is recognized as a symbol; no longer has the power of a symbol.
