The second stage
Ricoeur calls the desert of criticism. At some point, often during adolescence, we descend from the mountain of childlike faith and enter the
critical world. We might label this world “high school” or, better yet, “college.” Here we find that others do not share our faith. In
fact, some openly disparage what we hold dear. We learn that the very idea of faith is thought by many to be childish or delusional. We may
become skeptical, perhaps even cynical.