1d. INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTANDING A WORLDVIEW – 8/21/19
Worldview is defined as “the lens through which one interprets the world and all experiences”
One’s worldview will involve many educational disciplines of study in higher education. Those disciplines mentioned are given as “7 elements of a worldview” They are as follows:
1. Cosmology – the origin and nature of the universe [Evolution by natural laws / God Creator]
2. Theology – the existence and nature of God [Hindu’s many gods / Christian’s personal God]
3. Anthropology – the identity and value of human beings [Women as slaves / all are valuable]
4. Epistemology – the nature of knowledge/truth [Personal truth / Absolute Truth]
5. Axiology – the identity and nature of values = Ethical Morality [Abortion / Human Being]
6. History – the pattern and significance of historical facts [Denial of history / Preserving History]
7. Destiny – what happens to people after they die. [Is this life all there is / or a Hereafter!]
All worldviews will revolve around some axis or fulcrum as its central theme, out of which all concepts of life will be expressed. Four possibilities could be mentioned:
1. Naturalism— Nature is its central theme. Animism is an example or Evolution
-I must live in peace with Nature
2. Transcendentalism— the universe as the fulcrum. Pantheism is an example.
-People are inherently good. Everything is subjective.
3. Humanism— man is the center of all things. Postmodernism is an example = I choose
4. Theism— God is the center of life. The ‘I AM’ of the Bible is God for the true believer.
In summary it is proposed that “a worldview is a person’s complete system of beliefs, values, ethical principles & commitments – it is everything about everything”.
We will build on this foundation, constructing our own personal, Biblical Worldview principles and then seek to understand the implementation as well as implications of these worldview principles in various specific cultural applications in real time in the 21st. century world setting. This exercise should help prepare the Christian to understand the implications of his own world view in his own complex culture and help him understand the application of the same principles by others who are acculturated in other world cultures and the accompanying worldviews.
A critical concern must first be addressed. How does one’s worldview relate to one’s philosophy of life? A philosophy of life is defined as, “a system of values by which one lives” [Dictionary] It also defines worldview as a “comprehensive view of the world from a specified standpoint”. Thus, one must define which worldview one is talking about, that is, how does a Christian, Muslim, Hindu view or live in and perceive his world. It is to be understood that a worldview will indeed be driven by one’s reference to god or ‘higher power’ or denial thereof, which would equal an atheistic worldview in which man becomes that ultimate source of values.
Let us illustrate that one’s entire worldview will be skewed by their understanding of the god or ‘wholly other’ in the life experience:
George Barna, the pollster, opines that everyone has a worldview, and there are many from which to choose. The reality is that one doesn’t ‘choose’ a worldview, it is a view of the world growing out of his philosophy of life. In other words, his worldview is automatically generated by his philosophy of life, without his personal cognizance.
Examples of how one’s Worldview determines the responce to certain life issues:
1. A born again Christian’s worldview will determine his view of Evolution versus Creation
2. A secular scientist’s worldview will determine his view of ‘adult stem cell’ research
3. A politician’s worldview will drive his vote on political policy
4. In India, where the cow is worshipped, a Hindu’s worldview will determine his attitude toward a Muslim who eats it.
This helps explain why there is a War of Worldviews or ‘Culture Wars’ in society where there are major controversial issues such as: abortion, euthanasia, recreational drug use, pornography, etc.
Our ‘Biblical worldview [as well as all worldviews] will of necessity begin with certain presuppositions. As in a debate, one starts with givens not to be challenged or need of proof.
It is most amazing that the study of the origin of this world, in modern times, continues to generate a lot of heat. Primarily due to the fact that many scientists have a philosophy of life which will not allow them to admit that their theory of origins [Natural Law / Trial & Error / Survival Fittest / Long Periods of Time = Evolution] does not do justice to the facts in evidence. This clearly indicates, to those with out a clear agenda otherwise, that this world could not have happened by chance and without a designer, primarily due to its incomprehensible complexity, orderliness & importance of endless information. This means that too many things had to take place simultaneously & in order for trial and error to take place. This becomes an ethical problem, not a scientifically demonstrable one. In fact, it skews their entire worldview. Some scientists are now recognizing the importance of ethics in the field of science, such as bioethics, as being critical in understanding scientific investigation.
One other clarification needs to be addressed. What is the true meaning of FAITH % Science? Scientists automatically equate Faith with Religion. Religion does rely on Faith, but the term is not intrinsically ‘Religious” per se. The dictionary defines it as: “belief which does not rest on logical proof or material evidence”. That explicitly describes the Big Bang theory which Evolutionists want to present as “Science”. It is not science, but faith, as the definition prescribes! Science on the other hand is defined as “observation, identification, experimental investigation of phenomenon, reproducible experiment & peer review”. If such is not possible, then it is only acceptable on the basis of Faith not Science. Evolutionists vehemently declare Creationism as pseudo-science. No, we are happy to admit it is FAITH in the Word of God. But the Evolutiionist is not willing to admit that they too are limited to “no material evidence” only theoretical man based postulate and that by Faith not Science.
THE PRESUPPOSITIONS: [Starting points accepted for debate purposes]
1. The necessity of FAITH— [All Christians recognize the Biblical definition in Hebrews 11]
Faith is defined in the dictionary, however as: “belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence”. Even philosophical premises are based on faith, for one must start somewhere. All worldviews will be based on faith without doing violence to the definition of faith. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Ah, you want always to see through Providence, do you not? You never will, I assure you. You have not eyes good enough. You want to see what good that affliction was to you: you must believe it. Honor God by trusting Him.”
2. The existence of God---
Can you philosophically prove the existence of God? That is, even to your own
satisfaction, let alone to that of others. The concept of God will of necessity demand
other presuppositions involving the nature of God. The nature of God will help define
which God is meant, for the Hindus have 330,000,000 choices. It will also determine
what He is like—Loving, Autocratic, Wholly Other, Capricious, Controllable, etc.
Certainly God has spoken; therefore, his followers have collected His pronouncements— “…holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” [I Pet.121]
3. The Word of God--- [the Owner’s Manual]
There are many tomes [Holy Books] claiming to be the “Word of God”. Can you prove beyond a shadow of doubt which tome to accept? The Bible as the Word of God. What about the Koran of the Muslim? The Avesta of the Zoroastrians? The Vedas or Upanishads of the Buddhists? The Granth Sahib of the Sikhs? The Chinese Classics of the Chinese Confucianists? The Records of Ancient Matters [the Kojiki] of the Japanese Shintoists? The Egyptian Hieroglyphics, written about 3100 BC, were considered ‘Sacred Carving’ or ‘Words of the God.” There seems to be no end to the competitors vying for the title of Divine Oracle.
Barna research indicates that societies attitude toward various Divine Oracles is changing: the Bible: only 80% consider it ‘Sacred’; the Koran: 11%; the Torah: 6%; Book of Mormon: 4%. He also note that 14% do not consider any book Sacred.
4. The Standard of Truth---
What is truth? There an Absolute Truth and is not for each individual to determine! In most
Instances, the definition of truth will hark back to ones accepted Word of God. In 2017 it was declared that we are living in a “Post Truth” society. The new term, “Fake News” is defined as “to deliberately seek to falsify what is true”. Some are saying “Truth is dead, objective facts are irrelevant”. Others speak of “My belief, My Opinion, My TRUTH”.
5. The standard for Ethical Morality---
-Ethics is defined as: standards governing conduct
-Morality is defined as: the quality of conduct judged according to the ethical standard.
Thus, a person’s sense of morality will be based upon whatever ethical guide he has
chosen to accept as his attitude for living, his philosophy of life, if you will. Whether it is a chosen Word of God or his acceptance of situational ethics and an attitude of non-judgmentalism. There must be “moral absolutes”.
These are the ground rules for understanding a Worldview. To understand any worldview will require discovering what has been substituted in each of the Five Presuppositions.
We need some direction in understanding a “Reasonable Faith In An Uncertain World”
In preparation for the next lessons, consider the attitude of the Founding Fathers of this nation concerning their Worldview. [See next page “A”: Laus Deus]. Then we will consider a PowerPoint presentation called: America A Mission Field?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How does one’s ‘personal agenda’, drive his world view? [i.e.: Secular Scientist?, Liberal?, Christian?, Atheist?]
2. How does one go about constructing a ‘philosophy of life’? [are there again
presuppositions? See guidelines “B”]
3. How does one discover his own ‘agendas’
HOME WORK: Develop and write out your own Philosophy of Life using guidelines sheet “B”
NOTE: Spanish translation “Perspective Mundal 1”