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Lecture 18: Lecture 18: Biblical Worldview ThinkingBiblical Worldview Thinking

Introduction to Worldview Introduction to Worldview SystemsSystems

~ Paul R. Shockley~ Paul R. Shockley

Our overall objective for biblical worldview class is to Our overall objective for biblical worldview class is to be able to think and behave like Jesus Christ to be able to think and behave like Jesus Christ to such an extent that we will not be dishonored in such an extent that we will not be dishonored in

anything or by anyone.anything or by anyone.

Review from last class:Review from last class:

“People almost invariably “People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the the basis of proof but on the

basis of what they find basis of what they find attractive.”attractive.”

--Blaise Pascal--Blaise Pascal (17 (17thth century French philosopher) century French philosopher)

Why do you believe what you Why do you believe what you believe?believe?

SOCIO-LOGICAL REASONS

Parents

Friends

Society

Culture

Geography

Community

Peer Pressure

PSYCHO-LOGICAL REASONS

Comfort

Peace of mind

Meaning

Purpose

Hope

Identity

Feelings orIntuition

RELIGI-OUS

REASONS

Scripture

Pastor/Priest

Guru

Rabbi

Imam

Church

Tradition

Mysticism

PHILO-SOPHICAL REASONS

Consistency

Coherence

Completeness

Adapted from: James Sire, “Why Should Anyone Believe Anything At All” in Telling the Truth, D.A. Carson, ed.

BIBLICAL

TRUTH

AccurateExegesis

Biblical,TheologicalSystematicCoherence

““Did you know that there are more Did you know that there are more than 6,000 distinct religions in our than 6,000 distinct religions in our world today? world today?

Did you also know that world Did you also know that world religions and even philosophical religions and even philosophical worldview tend to break down into worldview tend to break down into 5 major categories of 5 major categories of assumptions/thoughts/perspectivesassumptions/thoughts/perspectives/values, etc/values, etc..

Consider the following worldview Consider the following worldview systems:systems:

1.1. Philosophical Naturalistic Philosophical Naturalistic WorldviewWorldview2.2. Philosophical Postmodern Philosophical Postmodern Worldview.Worldview.3.3. Religious Pantheistic Religious Pantheistic Worldviews.Worldviews.4.4. Religious Polytheism & Religious Polytheism & Spiritism Spiritism worldviews.worldviews.5.5. Theistic WorldviewTheistic Worldview6.6. Biblical Christian WorldviewBiblical Christian Worldview

What do we mean by What do we mean by “system”?“system”?

System (from the Latin, systēma; Greek System (from the Latin, systēma; Greek σύστημασύστημα; sustēma) is an assemblage of ; sustēma) is an assemblage of

entities/objects real or abstract, comprising a entities/objects real or abstract, comprising a whole with each & every component/element whole with each & every component/element

interacting or related to another one. interacting or related to another one.

Any object which has no relationship with any Any object which has no relationship with any other element of the system is not a component other element of the system is not a component

of that system.of that system.

Naturalistic Worldview?Naturalistic Worldview?

VIEW OF GOD

ATHEISM:There is no God.

AGNOSTICISM:There is not enough

information to determine whether

God exists.

SECULAR EXISTENTIALISM

God does not exist so humanity must learn to live without Him

(angst).

WITHOUT GOD??????

VIEW OF MANCHANCE

PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION

ENTIRELY MATERIAL-

BIOLOGICAL MACHINE .

MAN IS FINITE AND WILL ON DAY BECOME

EXTINCT

THERE IS NO AFTERLIFE

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS

“SIN”

VIEW OF TRUTH

TRUTH IS USUALLY

UNDERSTOOD AS SCIENTIFIC

PROOF

KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY FIVE

SENSES

ONLY THAT WHICH CAN BE

OBSERVED WITH THE FIVE

SENSES IS ACCEPTED AS

REAL

VIEW OF VALUES:

NO OBJECTIVE PRESCRIPTIVE

VALUES

MORALS ARE INDIVIDUAL

PREFRENCES, SOCIOLOGICALLY

USEFUL BEHAVIOR.

CONSCIENCE MAY BE AN

EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT

USUALLYSITUATIONAL OR

CONTRACT MODEL OF ETHICS

VIEW OF REALITY

THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE IS ALL

THAT EXISTS

REALITY IS “ONE –DIMENSIONAL”

NO SUPER-NATURALISM.

EVERYTHING CAN BE EXPLAINED ON

THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL

LAWS/SOCIO-BIOLOGICAL

SCIENCE

POSTMODERN WORLDVIEW:POSTMODERN WORLDVIEW:

VIEW OF GOD

PAGANISM:

NEW AGE:

SPIRITUALISM:

NON-THEISM?????

WHY EVEN ASK THE

QUESTION?

VIEW OF MAN

HUMANS ARE NODES IN

CULTURAL-REALITY

THEY ARE PRODUCES OF

THEIR SUBCULTURAL/

SOCIAL SETTING

COULD BE A PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION

BIASES, SCRIPTED BY SUBCULTURE

VIEW OF TRUTHTRUTHS ARE

MENTAL CONSTRUCTS MEANINGFUL

TO INDIVIDUALS/

SUBCULTURAL PARADIGMS.

TRUTH IS REDEFINED AS A

PARTICULAR CONSTRUCT/

NO UNIVERSAL TRUTHS

RESIST ALL FORMS OF

CATEGORIZA-TION

VIEW OF VALUES:

NO OBJECTIVE MORAL

OBJECTIVES

ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN.

VALUES ARE MENTAL

CONSTRUCTS MEANING TO

INDIVIDUALS/SUB-CULTURAL

PARADIGMS

PARTICULAR MORALISM

TOLERANCE IS PRIZED VIRTUE

VIEW OF REALITY

REALITY IS SOCIALLY

CONSTRUCTED.

THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A

REALITY OUT THERE IS A

PRODUCT OF GREEK

PHILOSOPHY/WESTERN THOUGHT.

THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE

AUTONOMOUS AND FREE IS A

MYTH.

POSTMODERNISTS RESIST ALL FORMS OF CATEGORIZATIONS, STRUCTURES, LABELS, & DEFINITIONS.

THE RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEWS THE RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEWS OF PANTHEISM:OF PANTHEISM:

VIEW OF GOD

HINDUISM:Polytheism.

TAOISM:Ultimate Reality is

Impersonal:Ying-Yang Dualism.

BUDDHISM:Polytheism

NEW AGE BELIEFS.

VIEW OF MAN

MAN IS ONE WITH REALITY,

THUS MAN IS SPIRITUAL AND

ETERNAL

INDIVIDUALISM IS AN ILLUSION

AN PERSON WHO BECOMES

AWAKENED FROM THE “SLEEP OF

IGNORANCE” BY DIRECTLY THE TRUE NATURE

OF REALITY IS A “BUDDHA.”

VIEW OF TRUTH

TRUTH ISAN EXPERIENCE

OF UNITY WITHIN

“ONENESS OF THE UNIVERSE.”

TRUTH IS BEYOND ALL

RATIONAL DESCRIPTION

AWAKENING IS THROUGH

MEDITATION, VARIOUS

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES,

ETC.

VIEW OF VALUES:

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY

REALITY IS IMPERSONAL,

THERE IS NO REAL DISTINCTION

BETWEEN GOOD & EVIL.

INSTEAD, “UNENLIGHTENED

BEHAVIOR” IS THAT WHICH

FAILS TO UNDERSTAND

ESSENTIAL UNITY (IGNORANCE).

VIEW OF REALITY

THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE IS ALL

THAT EXISTS

BUDDHIST PRACTICE IS TO PUT AN END TO THE STRESS OF

EXISTENCE

ONLY THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

EXISTS; ALL ELSE IS ILLUSION.

SPIRITUAL REALITY IS ETERNAL &

IMPERSONAL.

SPIRITISM & POLYTHEISM:SPIRITISM & POLYTHEISM:

VIEW OF GOD

ANIMISM:Primitive beliefs, the doctrine of spiritual

beings.

Spirit beings inhabit ordinary objects,

inorganic or organic.

The world is populated by

“spirit beings” who govern what goes on.

POLYTHEISM:There are many gods that exist

both beyond and in the universe.

VIEW OF MANMAN IS A

CREATION OF THE GODS LIKE

THE REST OF THE CREATURES

ON EARTH.

OFTEN, TRIBES OR

COMMUNITIES HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH SOME GODS WHO

PROTECT THEM & CAN PUNISH

THEM .

VIEW OF TRUTH

FOR SPIRITISM, TRUTH ABOUT THE NATURAL

WORLD IS TYPICALLY

DISCOVERED THROUGH A

SHAMAN FIGURE WHO HAS VISIONS

THAT TELL HIM OR HER WHAT THE GODS AND DEMONS ARE

DOING & HOW THEY FEEL.

TRUTH CAN BE ARBITRARY.

VIEW OF VALUES:

FORM OF TABOOS, WHICH ARE

THINGS WHICH IRRITATE OR

ANGER VARIOUS SPIRITS.

THESE TABOOS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE IDEA

OF “GOOD & EVIL” BECAUSE IT IS

JUST AS IMPORTANT TO

AVOID IRRITATING EVIL SPIRITS AS IT IS

GOOD ONES.

VIEW OF REALITY

WORLD IS POPULATED BY

BEINGS WHO GOVERN REALITY.

GOD & DEMONS ARE THE REAL

REASON BEHIND NATURAL EVENTS.

MATERIAL THINGS ARE

REAL, BUT HAVE SPIRITS

ASSOCIATED WITH THEM;

REALITY CAN BE INTERPRETED SPIRITUALLY.

MONOTHEISTIC WORLDVIEW:MONOTHEISTIC WORLDVIEW:VIEW OF

GOD

CHRISTIANITY

ISLAM

JUDAISM

AN INFINITE-PERSONAL GOD

EXISTS BOTH BEYOND & IN THE

UNIVERSE

GOD IS THE CREATOR OF THE

UNIVERSE, WORLD, VALUES, LIFE, INCLUDING

MAN.

VIEW OF MAN

HUMANITY IS THE UNIQUE

CREATION OF GOD

PEOPLE ARE PERSONAL,

SPIRITUAL, & BIOLOGICAL.

MAN IS ETERNALLY

JUDGED BY GOD.

MAN IS TYPICALLY VIEWED AS

SINFUL, IN NEED OF REDEMPTION.

VIEW OF TRUTH

TRUTH ABOUT GOD IS KNOWN

BOTH BY GENERAL &

SPECIAL REVELATION

REVELATION, USE OF FIVE

SENSES, & RATIONAL THOUGHT

(KNOWLEDGE)

TYPICALLY, CORRE-

SPONDENT /COHERENT

VIEW OF TRUTH.

VIEW OF VALUES:

MORAL VALUES ARE THE

OBJECTIVE EXPRESSION OF AN ABSOLUTE MORAL BEING

TYPICALLY BELIEVE IN

NATURAL, MORAL LAW & SPECIAL REVELATION, A BODY OF TRUTH

REVEALED BY GOD FOR

HONORING HIM.

TYPICALLY, SOME ABSOLUTE FORM

OF ETHICS.

VIEW OF REALITY

REALITY AS IT IS CREATED BY GOD

REALITY IS BOTH MATERIAL SPIRITUAL

MIRACLES CAN AND DO OCCUR.

THE UNIVERSE HAS A BEGINNING & WILL HAVE AN

END.

OFTEN, CLASSICAL REALISM.

BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW:BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW:VIEW OF

GOD

DOCTRINE OF THEOLOGY

PROPER

DOCTRINE OF CREATOR –CREATION

DISTINCTION.

DOCTRINE OF TRINITY

DOCTRINE OF CHRISTOLOGY

DOCTRINE OF PNEUMATOLOGY

VIEW OF MAN

DOCTRINE OF ANTHRO-POLOGY

DOCTRINE OF THE IMAGE OF

GOD IN MAN

DOCTRINE OF EVIL & SIN

DOCTRINE OF SOTERIOLOGY

ECCLESIOLOGY/ISRAELOLOGY

BIBLICAL JUDGMENTS

VIEW OF TRUTH

DOCTRINE OF TRUTH:Typically

correspondence – coherent models.

DOCTRINE OF PROLEGOMENA & BIBLIOLOGY

HERMEN-EUTICS

BIBLICAL APPLICATION

OF TRUTH

SOLA SCRIPTURA

VIEW OF VALUES:

MORAL VALUES ARE THE

OBJECTIVE TRUTHS SOURCED

IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

NATURAL, MORAL LAW & SCRIPTURE

FOR GODLY LIVING.

ABSOLUTE FORM OF ETHICS:

Qualified absolutism; conflict absolutism; graded absolutism.

STEWARDSHIP

VIEW OF REALITY

REALITY CREATED BY GOD

OF BIBLE.

FIRST PRINCIPLES OF LOGIC

REALITY IS MATERIAL SPIRITUAL;

MIRACLES CAN & DO OCCUR.

ESCHATOLOGY.

ANGELOLOGY-DEMONOLOGY-SATANOLOGY.

One goal of both Systematic One goal of both Systematic Theology & Worldview Thinking is Theology & Worldview Thinking is

to (1) expose inadequate to (1) expose inadequate justifications for belief & (2) justifications for belief & (2)

provide a solid basis for validating provide a solid basis for validating or invalidating truth claims in order or invalidating truth claims in order that we may have (3) a consistent & that we may have (3) a consistent & God-honoring foundation for godly God-honoring foundation for godly

living and servant-leadership.living and servant-leadership.