One’s Worldview has a lot to do with their One’s Worldview has a lot to do with their culture. It is recognized that there exists culture. It is recognized that there exists two major cultures that have influenced two major cultures that have influenced man’s thinking since early history till man’s thinking since early history till today. Those are…today. Those are…

The Western Culture & The Non-Western The Western Culture & The Non-Western CultureCulture

These are two cultures of great contrasts of These are two cultures of great contrasts of how they each think and perceive the how they each think and perceive the world around them.world around them.

Western Culture Non-Western CultureWestern Culture Non-Western Culture

Thinking: Thinking:Thinking: Thinking:

1. Physical 1. Spiritual1. Physical 1. Spiritual

2. Super Natural/Nat. 2. Creator; Created2. Super Natural/Nat. 2. Creator; Created

3. Closed System 3. Open System3. Closed System 3. Open System

4. Mind/Body 4. Integrated4. Mind/Body 4. Integrated

5. Autonomous 5. Dependent5. Autonomous 5. Dependent

6. Divided/Individual 6. Community6. Divided/Individual 6. Community

7. Analytical 7. Meditative7. Analytical 7. Meditative

8. Ideas; Theories 8. Practice8. Ideas; Theories 8. Practice

Western Culture Non-Western CultureWestern Culture Non-Western Culture

Thinking: Thinking:Thinking: Thinking:

9. Myths; Allegory 9. Historical9. Myths; Allegory 9. Historical

10. To Know: Dominate 10. Obedient10. To Know: Dominate 10. Obedient

11. Logic = Linear 11. Logic = Block11. Logic = Linear 11. Logic = Block

12. Thought: Abstract 12. Concrete12. Thought: Abstract 12. Concrete

13. Categories: 13. Categories:13. Categories: 13. Categories:

Sacred/Secular All is SacredSacred/Secular All is Sacred

14. Faith/Reason 14. Reasonable Faith14. Faith/Reason 14. Reasonable Faith

15. Symbols: Fixed 15. Dynamic15. Symbols: Fixed 15. Dynamic

Western Culture Non-Western CultureWestern Culture Non-Western CultureThinking: Thinking:Thinking: Thinking:

16. Creeds 16. Deeds16. Creeds 16. Deeds17. Nouns/Adjectives 17. Verbs17. Nouns/Adjectives 17. Verbs18. Time… Linear, Prog. 18. Cycles, Cons18. Time… Linear, Prog. 18. Cycles, Cons19. Space… Geometry 19. Space…?19. Space… Geometry 19. Space…?20. Competition 20. Cooperation20. Competition 20. Cooperation21. Axis: Law 21. Axis: Relations21. Axis: Law 21. Axis: Relations

Notice the differences?Notice the differences?

These Two Patterns of Thinking can These Two Patterns of Thinking can also be identified with two great also be identified with two great cultures of the past that continue to cultures of the past that continue to influence thinking today…influence thinking today…

Western Thought was practiced by Western Thought was practiced by the Greek culture.the Greek culture.

Non-Western Thought was practiced Non-Western Thought was practiced by the Hebrew culture.by the Hebrew culture.

So what? So what?

What does any of this have to do with What does any of this have to do with me?me?

1. The Scriptures come from Hebrew 1. The Scriptures come from Hebrew culture.culture.

2. Modern day Science comes from the 2. Modern day Science comes from the Greek culture.Greek culture.

From the Greeks to Darwin From the Greeks to Darwin By Henry Fairfield OsbornBy Henry Fairfield Osborn

1. Thales of Miletus (640 B.C.- 546 B.C.) He 1. Thales of Miletus (640 B.C.- 546 B.C.) He declared water to be the matter from which declared water to be the matter from which all else arose.all else arose.

2. Anaximander (611 B.C.- 547 B.C.) The 2. Anaximander (611 B.C.- 547 B.C.) The earth was first covered with water; from its earth was first covered with water; from its gradual drying up all creatures were gradual drying up all creatures were produced. Aquatic men first appeared in the produced. Aquatic men first appeared in the form of fish and they emerged from this form of fish and they emerged from this element only after they had progressed in element only after they had progressed in development to sustain themselves on land. development to sustain themselves on land. This was like a metamorphasis with the idea This was like a metamorphasis with the idea of survival through trying circumstances.of survival through trying circumstances.

From the Greeks to DarwinFrom the Greeks to Darwin By Henry Fairfield OsbornBy Henry Fairfield Osborn

3. Xenophanes (576 B.C.- 480 B.C.) 3. Xenophanes (576 B.C.- 480 B.C.) The ultimate origin of life he traced back The ultimate origin of life he traced back

to was Spontaneous Generation, believing to was Spontaneous Generation, believing that the sun warming the earth produced that the sun warming the earth produced plants and animals.plants and animals.

From the Greeks to DarwinFrom the Greeks to Darwin By Henry Fairfield OsbornBy Henry Fairfield Osborn

4. Empedocles (495 B.C.- 435 B.C.) He 4. Empedocles (495 B.C.- 435 B.C.) He believed the development of life was a believed the development of life was a gradual process. That plants evolved gradual process. That plants evolved before animals. That the imperfect forms before animals. That the imperfect forms were gradually replaced by perfect forms. were gradually replaced by perfect forms. The natural cause of the production of The natural cause of the production of perfect forms was the extinction of the perfect forms was the extinction of the imperfect.imperfect.

From the Greeks to Darwin From the Greeks to Darwin By Henry Fairfield OsbornBy Henry Fairfield Osborn

5. Plato (428 B.C.- 348 B.C.) His Chain of 5. Plato (428 B.C.- 348 B.C.) His Chain of Being, was from the perfect to the Being, was from the perfect to the imperfect. It was a degenerative evolution. imperfect. It was a degenerative evolution.

6. Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) He 6. Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) He believed in a complete ascending believed in a complete ascending gradation in nature, a progressive gradation in nature, a progressive development corresponding with the development corresponding with the progressive life of the soul. His concept progressive life of the soul. His concept was of a single chain of being evolving was of a single chain of being evolving from polyps to man.from polyps to man.