Amar, Akbar, AnthonyBimla, Banu, Beulah

Understanding Religious Worldviews

By Mariyosh J, GEMS Bihar

• Who is he?• Write down the words that he uses to

describe God• What is/are the basis of his beliefs?

Listen to the Audio

• Who is he?• Write down the words that he uses to

describe God• What is/are the basis of his beliefs?

Components of Gandhi’s speech

• mysterious power • unseen power • It transcends the senses• I do not realize the presence of God - the King of

Kings• Sir J. C. Bose proved that even matter is life• Law and the law-giver are one• a living power that is changeless, that holds all

together, that creates, dissolves and recreates

“in the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth truth persists, in the midst of darkness light persists. Hence I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme Good. But He is no God who merely satisfies the intellect, if He ever does. God to be God must rule the heart and transform it.”

• Who is he?• What is it that he claims?• What is the word that he frequently uses?• What is/are the basis of his beliefs?

Listen to the Audio

• Who is he?• What is it that he claims?• What is the word that he frequently

uses?• What is/are the basis of his beliefs?

Components of King’s speech

• All men are created equal• Table of brotherhood• Freedom and justice• Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address by saying "Five score years ago..." • "It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.”

Psalm 30:5 • "No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls

down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Amos 5:24. • "I have a dream that every valley shall be exalted...” Isaiah 40:4-5• opening lines of Shakespeare's "Richard III”, "this sweltering summer of

the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn..."

• Abandoned by parents• Left to be adopted• Working at apple farm• Selling used Coco-Cola bottles• Ate meals provided by “ISKCON”

(Hare Krishnas)• Usage of Psychedelic drugs• Trip to India• Conversion to Zen Buddhism• Fan of Beatles

• ISKCON – Vegetarianism – PFA – TM (emptying the mind)

• Christian – Non vegetarianism – Meditating the Bible

• Vivekananda defines education as ‘the manifestation of the perfection already in man.’

• CS Lewis – Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.

What is it that influences their thoughts & decisions?

Their “Worldviews”

What is a Worldview?

A worldview is "an interpretive framework”-much like a pair of glasses-through which you view everything.

Everyone bases his or her decisions and actions on a worldview.

A worldview is a set of beliefs that underlie and shape all human thought and action.

“Worldview”

The term “Worldview” was first used by Immanuel Kant in the 18th century; he used a German term “Weltanschauung” which means “a way of looking at the world.”

Our worldview determines our

–Decisions–Our life goals–What we think will make us happy–How we spend our money–How we treat others

Adapted from Colson & Warren’s Wide Angle: Framing Your Worldview

Hidden Worldviews

• All around us:– Canon: “Image is everything.”

• Image is more important than substance– Sprite: “Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst”

• Follow after your desires.– Volkswagen: “Jaded is overrated. Dare to be

happy.” • Material possessions can bring happiness

• All Worldviews are not equal

There are:– Good Worldview vs. Bad Worldview– Accurate Worldview vs. Inaccurate

Worldview

“I am absolutely convinced that the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Maidanek were ultimately prepared not in some ministry or other in Berlin, but rather at the desks and in lecture halls of nihilistic scientists and philosophers.”

[Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live without God?, p.25]

The questions that form a worldview

• Where did I come from? (Origin) • How do I separate good from bad? (Morality) • What is my life’s meaning? (Purpose) • What’s going to happen to me when I die?

(Destiny)

Christianity satisfactorily answers all 4 of the “Big” questions of life!

Many Worldviews

• Atheism• Existentialism• Hedonism• Humanism• Materialism• Nihilism

• Pantheism• Polytheism• Postmodernism• Pragmatism• Socialism• Theism

All worldviews might seem to say the same thing

Christianity'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.'

JESUS, Matthew 7:12

Baha'i'Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.'

BAHA'ULLAH, Tablets of Baha'ullah, 71

Buddhism'Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.'

UDANA-VARGA, 5:18

Confucianism'Do unto other what you would have them do unto you.'

Analects 15:23

Hinduism'This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which

would cause you pain if done to you.'Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam'No one of you is a believer until he desires for his

brother that which he desires for himself.'SUNNAH

Jainism'In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should

regard all creatures as we regard our own self.'LORD MAHAVIRA, 24th Tirthankara

Judaism'What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowman. That is the law: all

the rest is commentary.'Talmud, Shabbat 31a

Native American'Respect for all life is the foundation.'

The Great Law of Peace

Sikhism'Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone.'

Guru Arjan Devji 259, Guru Granth Sahib

Zoroastrianism'That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever

is not good for its own self.'Dadistan-i-Dinik, 94:5

Worldview of major religions

• Islam - the five pillars• Buddhism - the four noble truths• Atheism - all that is, is natural and nothing

supernatural• Christianity - is built on the existence of the

Triune God who has created us and from whom all our imperatives of belief and practice emerge.

Religious Views of Jesus  God or Man? Who Jesus Was Jesus' Purpose

ResurrectionHappened?

Traditional (Nicene) Christianity

Both: "fully God and fully man."Second person of the Trinity, incarnation of God, Son of God, Savior.

Die for the sins of humanity. Yes

Arianism A created divine being.A divine being, but created by God and inferior to Father. Son of God. Savior.

To save humanity from sin. Yes

Baha'i Faith ManA "manifestation of God" and prophet. Since superseded by Muhammad and Baha'u'llah.

To reveal God's will as part of progressive revelation to humanity.

Only spiritually.

Buddhism ManWise and enlightened man who taught similar things to the Buddha.

To teach humanity wisdom and the way to enlightenment.

Not addressed

Christian Science ManWise man especially attuned to the divine Christ.

To teach humanity, heal, and overcome death.

Yes

Christadelphians Man (or half-man, half-God).Son of God but human, because mother was human Mary. Lived a sinless life and died sacrificial death.

To show God's love for humanity and redeem humanity from sin.

Yes

Gnosticism God Divine being sent from the supreme God.To rescue humanity from the material world by revealing true knowledge.

Most Gnostics reject that Christ died at all. The human Jesus was ordinary and did not resurrect.

Hinduism Views varyIncarnation of God akin to Krishna, or wise man.

Not addressed Not addressed

Islam ManTrue prophet sent by God, but superseded by Muhammad.

To reveal God's will in a progressive revelation that ended with Muhammad.

No

Jehovah's Witnesses An archangelSon of God, Word of God, God's first creation, Archangel Michael.

Teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin.

Yes

Mormonism (LDS) ManSon of God, Savior, originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be. Has a physical body.

To teach about God, provide a model for living, die sacrificially for sin.

Yes

Theosophy Man Great teacher.   No

Unitarian Universalism ManGreat teacher, faith-healer, "incarnation of God's love."

To demonstrate God's love for humanity and teach about justice and compassion.

No official teaching; most do not believe physical resurrection.

Why to know a person’s worldview?

Acts 17:16-28

“.... I see/perceive that in all things you are very religious.....” – I see what it is that you actually believe“one of your poets…..”

The goal for us in understanding the other person’s worldview is to get the other person to the Triune God. To communicate the Truth.

What stops people from becoming Christians?

1. Intellectual Barriers to Faith2. The historical associations of Christianity3. The problem of Relevance4. Misunderstanding the nature of Christianity5. The hunger for absolute certainty6. Prior commitment to another belief system7. The problem of personal integrity8. A sense of guilt or inadequacy

- “Bridge Building” by Alister McGrath

Hindu Worldview

• Hinduism is diverse; no single doctrine (or set of beliefs)

• Spirit is understood within two main categories– the individual self, or soul (the atman)– the Supreme Self, or God (the paramatman).

• Three main truths which form the basis for theological discussion – matter, soul, God

• Almost all Hindus believe that the real self (atman) is distinct from the temporary body made of matter (prakriti)

• The eternal soul identifies with matter and is entrapped by maya (illusion)

• Impelled by lust, greed, anger, etc., he undergoes samsara (the cycle of repeated birth and death)

• Each soul creates its unique destiny according to the law of karma (the universal law of action and reaction)

• Under the influence of eternal time and the three gunas (material qualities) he moves throughout the creation, sometimes going to higher planets, sometimes moving in human society, and at other times entering the lower species.

• The goal of most Hindus is moksha, liberation from this perpetual cycle, through re-identification with the eternal brahman (Supreme)

• Hinduism accepts different paths towards this common goal (union with God).

• It stresses strict adherence to universal principles through the practice of one's dharma (ordained duty) as revealed through authorised holy books and usually received through the guru (spiritual mentor).

Speaking Tree: This morning (5th Nov 2011)

Key Concept Key Questions

1. The Atman (the Soul) Who are we? What is the real self?

2. Reincarnation and Samsara What happens after death, before birth?

3.The Law of Karma Why is there suffering?

4. Prakriti (Matter) and Guna How does the world work?

5. Maya (Illusion) Why do we get into difficulty in this world?

6. moksha (Liberation) What is the goal of life?

7. God (Brahman/Ishvara) Is there a God? If so, what is He/She like?

8. Dharma (religious duties) Which is the right way to act?

9. One Goal, Different Paths How can we explain Hindu diversity?

10. Scripture and Guru (Authority)

How are the teachings preserved?

11 .Time When did it all start and when will it finish?

12. Creation How and why was this world made?

Witnessing to Hindus

• Treat Hindus with respect by asking and patiently listening as they explain their religion

• Care for them• Have a humble spirit• Use stories to explain Jesus' forgiveness• Keep the personhood of God in mind• Carefully emphasize the exclusivity of Jesus• Be patient, Be prayerful

Paul’s style of evangelism @ workplace among Hindus

Upanishad PrayerAsatho Maa Sad Gamaya Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya Mrithyor Maa Amritham Gamaya

Lead me from untruth to truth; Lead me from darkness to light; Lead me from death to immortality.

Based on Gayatri Mantra

The Muslim WorldviewThe Quran and the Sunnah - Islamic guidance. The Sunnah records the sayings

and doings of Muhammad. The seven fundamental beliefs of every Muslim in the world:

1. God - Muslims lay great stress on the unity of God. “He is singular – without anything like him: Separate – having no equal.”

2. Angels (and other spiritual beings – Jinn and Demons) 3. Holy Books (Revealed books of God) - There are hundreds of these – “the

Books of the Prophets”. The four major Holy Books are The Torah – the books of Moses; The Zabur – the Psalms of David; The Injil – given to Jesus; and The Quran – given to Muhammad .

4. Prophets - 25 are mentioned in the Quran. There are six Major Prophets: Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.

5. The resurrection and the last day - The resurrection of the body followed by judgement based on the concept of balance of good versus bad deeds.

6. They believe in life after death7. They believe in predestination i.e. divine measurement & control of human

affairs

Witnessing to Muslims - Some practical tips

• Depend on God's Word and God's Spirit• Use Your Mind and Heart to know them

I. Their book. Become familiar with the Quran. II. Their culture. Study their way of life and try to understand it. III. Their religion. Acquaint yourself with Islam. IV. Their history. They boast in their history. It is a part of them.

• Be a Credible Messenger• Never belittle Muhammad or the Quran• Use familiar forms of worship• Speak their language. To help Muslims hear the

gospel and understand it, we must speak their language. This language is Allah for ‘God’, Isa for ‘Jesus’, AlMasih for ‘Christ’, masjed for ‘place of worship’, subhan Allah for ‘praise be to God’, bismellah for ‘in the name of God’, and other similar expressions.

Witnessing to Muslims - Some practical tips

• Give your personal testimony• Talk about the “forgiveness” of sins• Jesus coming as the final judge• Encourage them to study the Bible (Quran: bits & pieces)• Play the role of a supporting friend & give a supportive

communityI – IS – ShouldL – LoveA – AllM – Muslims

Witnessing to Muslims - Some practical tips

Communicating the Truth

• Identification —How can you identify with your listener?

• Translation —How can you translate your message into their idiom?

• Persuasion —What about your story is persuasive?

• Justification —Why do you believe what you believe?

Why do people still reject the gospel?

The human problem is not finiteness or smallness, but fallenness and sinfulness

Sin involves an evasion of the truth

Sin has ultimately contributed to intellectual confusion and moral evil

- Ravi Zacharias, Establishing a worldview

Understanding – Effect

• 1 Peter 3:15Read – P.R.O.F.I.T-Mantra for Workplace Evangelism www.facebook.com/gemsprofit

• Revelation 3:14-18• Deonicious Areopagatos

If you understand the worldview of the person you are speaking to, you will have an effect.