As with any understanding of human development, the notion of “becoming a man” is one that should be examined on many levels. The intent of this session is to help the fathers and sons touch on some of the kinds of development occurring during adolescence and to explore how this development impacts the lives of the teenagers and their relationship with their fathers, now and in the future. Several categories of growth that take place in adolescence are listed during the session.

The particular focus of Session Two, however, is an explanation of four male archetypes. These are descriptions of four models of male psychological behavior: father, seeker, warrior and sage. The archetypes provide a foundation for understanding individual male behaviors and the dynamics of relationships between fathers and sons who may be of differing archetypes.

The archetypes presented in this session were developed by Tad Guzie and Noreen Monroe Guzie in their book About Men and Women.

Often overlooked in the process of becoming a man is an adolescent’s changing religious development and imaging of God. A shift in religious thinking usually occurs during adolescence, paralleling the identity crisis typical of this period. Early adolescence is a time of peer-orientation and self-doubt. It is also the beginning of independent thinking and introspection. Adolescents in the 13- to 15-year-old range are in the process of developing an entirely new spiritual outlook, though they may for the most part seem uninterested in faith or apathetic. Later adolescence is marked by questioning and searching faith. Teens at this age are very adept at articulating questions and doubts as well as their convictions and commitments.

This session helps to reopen or build up the lines of communication between sons and fathers, and by doing so, to reinforce the trust and respect they have for one another. This is an important task that also has spiritual ramifications. Jesus often addresses God as a loving “Abba,” or “Daddy.” The parable of the lost son highlights the love and care of a father for his two sons. Without day-to-day experience of a father’s love, a son may have difficulty understanding the unfathomable love that God has for each one of us. One of the goals of this session, and the program as a whole, is to help sons to see their fathers as men of faith and as models of a God who loves them without bounds.