There is or should be a place for self acceptance but there should be something aspirational in religion too or so it seems to this outsider. “Everyone is a sinner” should establish a kind of common ground from which cooperation and good will can ensue. It shouldn’t be an endorsement for any and all depravity. Stages make sense in terms of physical and mental maturation, why not for spiritual maturity too?
I’ve been sharing this a lot elsewhere but haven’t done so on this thread but maybe it fits. Author and book store owner Ann Patchett on accepting what one is warts and all.
But more apropos here in the first five minutes is Brian McClaren talking about why he feels talk of stages makes sense:
