Worldview Primer

The Connections between “Roots” and “Fruit”

Jurchan/2009 Use with Permission only 1

Uproot for analysis…

Roots = inward beliefs

Branches and “fruit” = outward behavior


Points to considerDefinitions of

worldviewWhy should I be

interested?Major elements of a

worldviewWhat are the basic

worldviews?

What is the connection between worldviews & values?

What is the Christian worldview?

What is the importance of all of this to the individual Christian?


Definitions of WorldviewSum total of propositions a person believes (Jay

Wegter)A set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which

we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world (James Sire)

An explanation and interpretation of the world… an application of this view to life (Phillips and Brown)

A developed worldview supplies answers to questions of origin, purpose, and destiny (James Orr)


Definitions continued…A set of assumptions that people make about

the nature of reality (Freddy Davis)

A faith position which is the organizing principle for an individual’s understanding of how the real world operates (Freddy Davis)

Every Worldview IS a FAITH position.


Why should I be interested?Personal development and self-reflection

provides the quality of the foundation for professional development

ERIEthical Professionals

Responsive Professionals Informed Professionals


Recall the basics…

A worldview (ROOTS) guarantees adherence to some system of thought and so outcomes (FRUIT)

A worldview provides an overarching approach to understanding God, the world, and the relationship of people to God and the world. (David Noebel)


Worldview is like an invisible pair of eyeglasses-glasses you put on to help you see reality clearly.

If you choose the right pair of glasses, you can see everything vividly and can behave in sync with the real world.

But if you choose the wrong pair of glasses, you may find yourself in a worse plight than the blind man - thinking you see clearly when in reality your vision is severely distorted. (Jeff

Baldwin)


Commonalities of all Worldviewsreference: Jay Wegter


theology

metaphysics

epistemology

ethics

anthropology


Theology

What is God’s relationship with nature?

Is God personal?

Can He be known?

If so, how may He be known?

What are God’s attributes?

What does the person believe about the existence of God?


MetaphysicsIs the universe created?

What is God’s relation to the universe?

Is the universe co-eternal with God?

Is the universe mechanistic, solely material, non-purposeful, closed?

What is the nature of ultimate reality?


EpistemologyCan man trust his senses?

Does man’s abstract reason correspond with the physical universe so that meaning is possible?

Is all truth relative and none absolute?

What is the proper role of reason?

What is the source of man’s innate ideas?

Can God reveal Himself?What is the ultimate authority in the realm of knowledge?


EthicsAre moral laws the same for all people?

Are moral laws to be discerned by investigation?

Are moral laws constructed by humans?

Are moral laws always changing? Do morals transcend culture,

history, and individual boundaries?Jurchan/2009 Use with Permission only 14

AnthropologyIs man material only, or does he have a soul?

Does man’s existence end at death or is there an afterlife?

Is there a heaven and a hell where individuals are conscious and physically present?

Are humans “pawns” controlled by deterministic forces?


Worldview Basic Assumptions Associated Belief Systems

Naturalism There is no supernatural existence. Only matter exists which is eternal & evolving.

Secular Humanism, Atheism, Existentialism, Marxism, Agnosticism

Far Eastern Thought Essence of all existence - impersonal life force. Pieces of the life force are consistently working towards merging with main body.

Hinduism, Hare Krishna, Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism


Worldview Basic Assumptions Associated Belief Systems

Theism Infinite & transcendent (supernatural) God- Creator & Sustainer of the material universe

Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism

Animism Universe contains both material & immaterial parts. Spirits exist in separate places from physical human beings; interaction in a symbiotic relationship

Astrology, Spiritism, Native American Religions, Witchcraft/Wicca, Japanese Shinto


Implications of the different worldviews on resultant values?


Seeing clearly: Roots & Fruit

Recall: A developed worldview supplies answers to questions of origin, purpose, and destiny (James Orr)

Colossians 2:6-8

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.


II Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


What is the Christian Worldview?“The Christian worldview stands or falls on the accuracy of the

Bible” (Noebel, 2002, p. 15)

God made the world, ordered man’s place in it, and redeemed it.

God is Creator

The Gospel Message

Christ’s return and End times

God’s ultimate authority - Scripture


Consider…

All branches of knowledge are connected

together, because the subject matter of

knowledge is intimately united in itself, as

being the acts and the work of the Creator.

(John H. Newman)


How does the Christian worldview answer the following…

Theology: Is there a God, and what is God

like?

Philosophy: What is real, and what is true?

Biology: What is the origin of life?

Psychology: What is the basic nature of man?


Additional disciplines…Ethics: What is right?

Sociology: How should society be structured?

Law: What is the basis for law?

Politics: What is the purpose of government?


Finally, consider how the Christian worldview answers the following…

Economics: What produces a sound

economy?

History: How should we interpret human

events?


Importance for the Individual Christian?Worldview is a FAITH

positionThe organizing principle

for an individual’s understanding of how the world operates

We think & act based on these beliefs.

Personal faith lifeOur Witness


Worldview Primer

Documents

Transcript of Worldview Primer