One person might look at the complexities of the universe or the intricacies of a DNA strand and see the intelligence and creative power of God at work. And another person can look at these same marvels and see only matter and chance. The first person believes that human history is guided by a supernatural power that gives purpose to the material world, while the other sees only meaninglessness. For this person the whole universe has no meaning, no purpose. It just is. Why such broad differences in opinion? The answer is found in the different worldview that each person has developed. Different people see the world in different ways because of differing worldviews.
What is a worldview? Generally speaking, a worldview is the filter through which we experience, understand, and respond to the world.
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“A person’s worldview represents his most fundamental beliefs and assumptions about the universe he inhabits. It reflects how he would answer all the “big questions” of human existence: fundamental questions about who and what we are, where we came from, why we’re here, where (if anywhere) we’re headed, the meaning and purpose of life, the nature of the afterlife, and what counts as a good life here and now.” ―James Anderson 1https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-worldview/ |
A person’s worldview determines how the events and circumstances of life will be understood, accepted, and acted upon. Your worldview will determine your opinions on ethical and political issues. How you feel about about abortion rights, assisted suicide, mercy killing, homosexuality, public education, economic inequality, foreign aid, the use of military force, environmentalism, animal rights, genetic technologies, and almost any other major issue of our day depends on your underlying worldview more than any other influence. 2https://www.monergism.com/introduction-whats-your-worldview-interactive-approach-lifes-big-questions
Each one of us has a worldview through which we see, interpret and understand our world. Our worldview will determine if we acknowledge God’s existence or see the material universe is all that exists. Or, if we possess a pantheistic worldview we might believe that only the spiritual dimension exists and that the material world is an illusion. The concept of a worldview can be compared to seeing the world through a pair of sunglasses. The tint of our particular pair of sunglasses shades the way we see everything around us. Our family, culture, education and religious believes all help us to develop the “tint” to our own glasses. No one “sees” the world through an unbiased clear lens. Worldviews provide us with a feedback systems in which our cultural, philosophical and religious propositions effect how we interpret what we observe in the world. These interpretations lead us to conclusions that then reinforce our worldview.
| Your worldview represents your most fundamental beliefs and assumptions about the universe you inhabit. It reflects how you would answer all the “big questions” of human existence, the fundamental questions we ask about life, the universe, and everything.” 3https://www.monergism.com/introduction-whats-your-worldview-interactive-approach-lifes-big-questions |
The big questions that all formal worldviews must address include:
- Origin – Where did we come from?
- Meaning – Why are we here?
- Destiny – Where are we going?
- Morality – What’s right and what’s wrong?
Monergerism.org adds these important questions that a worldview must address: “Is there a God? If so, what is God like and how do I relate to God? If there isn’t a God, does it matter? What is truth and can anyone really know the truth anyway? Where did the universe come from and where is it going—if anywhere? What’s the meaning of life? Does my life have a purpose—and, if so, what is it? What am I supposed to do with my life? What does it mean to live a good life? Does it really matter in the end whether or not I live a good life? Is there life after death? Are humans basically just smart apes with superior hygiene and fashion sense—or is there more to us than that?” 4https://www.monergism.com/introduction-whats-your-worldview-interactive-approach-lifes-big-questions
A number of factors will influence the development of you personal world view. “Factors that influence a person’s worldview are numerous and diverse. Among the most obvious, each of which affect a person throughout their lives and interact in many ways, are: family upbringing,interpersonal relationships, phenomenological experiences, education, geographical context, career, and, perhaps to some degree, genetics. Because each person has a unique context and set of experiences for his or her life, it can be argued that everyone develops and possesses a unique worldview.”5http://faculty.rwu.edu/lbyrne/worldviews.pdf Rarely will two people have exactly the same worldview, but they may share the same basic type of worldview. It is also the case that, while a person might posses a particular worldview they may not always act in a way consistent with that view.
Why is it important to understand worldviews? Understanding a person’s worldview can helps us to understand what they believe and why they believe it. This understanding will give us insight into how we can have conversations with them about the Christian worldview. From an evangelistic point of view it can help to be able to recognize a persons worldview in order to better address there doubts and questions. It can help you to better prepare for the questions when you know the worldview of those you encounter. James Anderson points out that, “It is therefore crucial that Christians be able to engage with unbelief at the worldview level. Christians need to understand not only what it means to have a biblical worldview, but also why they should hold fast to that worldview and apply it to all of life. They should be able to identify the major non-Christian worldviews that vie for dominance in our society, to understand where they fundamentally differ from the Christian worldview, and to make a well-reasoned case that the Christian worldview alone is true, good, and beautiful.
As you can imagine, there are multiple competing worldviews. \So how do we determine a person’s worldview? In some cases it is not all that difficult to determine a person’s worldview. If a person attends a Mosque on a regular bases, it is a pretty sure bet that he possess a Muslim worldview.. 6https://www.summit.org/christian-worldview
The easiest way to determine a person’s worldview is to ask the following three question? 7http://www.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/your-worldview-why-it-matters-3-questions-to-determine-worldview
1. Is there a higher power in the Universe? If the answer is “no” then what is the ultimate authority? Who, if anyone, are you ultimately responsible to? In reality, the logical answer is that there is no one to whom the individual is responsible. Typically, this person sees themselves as completely autonomous. They must use their own reason to determine truth and meaning in this world. For the individual who does acknowledge a higher power, the complete opposite is true. Truth doesn’t exist solely in one’s interpretation of their world, but rather there is an ultimate truth that comes from the higher power. These individuals may choose to whether or not they will seek the truth, but at their core they acknowledge that they are not completely autonomous individuals.
2. Where did our world come from? For the non-higher power crowd, we begin to see ideas of Darwinian Evolution, Alien Seed Theories, and the Big Bang for starters. Those who huddle in the higher power group tend to gravitate toward their individual faith’s expression of the beginning of the world. In the West, this is typically a creator who makes the world and creation. The Eastern religions have much more spiritual and mystical explanations for the beginning of the world.
3. What is the purpose of man? Is man made in the image of God with the purpose of serving Him? Or is man an accident of chance an mass of molecules in motion with no real purpose?
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