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Worldview
A Brief Introductionto the Concept
A General Definition
A “Worldview” is the comprehensive set of beliefs, knowledge, values, assumptions, attitudes, and opinions that serve as a lense through which a particular social group sees, interprets, and makes sense of the world in which it lives.
One View
Some Components of a Worldview
Ontology: beliefs that group members hold about the nature and reality of the material, mental, and spiritual realms.
Epistemology: the dominant or preferred ways of knowing among most of the group’s members
Theology: the group’s beliefs about the nature of god(s), its powers, and its role in human life
Cosmology: the group’s beliefs about the origins, the nature, the history, and the future directions of the universe, as well as the place of humans within that scheme
Values: goup beliefs about what is important in life, what is to be persued, obtained, protected, cherished
Ethics: group beliefs about right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
Examples
Two Woldviews
Rigoberta Menchú
Spencer Wells
Leader of K'iche’ Mayan People
Stanford University Geneticist
San people of Namibia Aborigin
al people of Australia
Chukchi herders of Siberia
Navajo people of Arizona
Let’s Compare
Two WoldviewsRigoberta Menchú
Spencer Wells
Leader of K'iche’ Mayan
People
Stanford University Geneticist
OntologyEpistemology
TheologyCosmology
ValuesEthics
Life Style
Culture
The Worldview
Project
I. Form a 4 or 5-person team
II. Select a group to explore
III. Conduct research
IV. Prepare a multimedia PowerPoint presentation
V. Deliver the presentation to the class
Selecting a Group to Study
Select a “living” group whose worldview is held by real people today.
Choose a group whose worldview is different than those held by your group members.
Select a group which has produced accessible information about itself.
Select a group in which all of your team members have some degree of genuine interest.
Take your time in considering the alternatives until consensus is reached.
Consult with me before making your final decision.
Selecting a Group to Study
Indigenous Culture Groups
Maya of Guatemala
Inuit of Alaska or the Arctic
Hutu, Tutsi, San, or Maasai of Africa
Maori of New Zealand or Aborigines of Australia
Romani or Roma (Gypsies) of central Europe
Asmat of Papua New Guinea
Mixtec or Zapotec of Oaxaca, Mexico
Selecting a Group to Study
Religious Groups
(In which “religion”has a profound influence on its members’ belief system and lifestyle.)
Hasidic Judaism
Amish
Islamic Fundamentalism
The Unification Church (Moonies)
Hare Krishnas
Selecting a Group to Study
Spiritual Movement Groups
New Age
Falun Gong
Kabbalah
Scientology
Focus of Your Research and Presentation
A. Background and ContextProvide a very brief historical sketch for the
group.
Map the place or places in the world where the group resides.
Show what members of the group look like.
Provide some demographic information on the group.
Focus of Your Research and Presentation
B. Key Beliefs that Comprise the Group’s Worldview
Ontological beliefs Epistemological beliefs Religious or spiritual beliefs Ethical teachings Core values Social beliefs Beliefs about the group’s relationship to the
larger society. Other elements necessary to understand the
group’s worldview
Focus of Your Research and Presentation
C. Cultural Patterns
Are there any cultural patterns that characterize the group and help to understand it?
Rural-agrarian or urban-industrial Poverty or wealth Low formal education or high formal education Minority status or majority status History of being oppressed or oppressing others Segregated from or integrated within the wider
society Other factors
Focus of Your Research and Presentation
D.Current Concerns, Issues, and Challenges
The world is in the process of widespread and rapid change, and all worldviews are faced with the challenges of advocating for, accepting, adapting to, incorporating, resisting, or rejecting these changes, or some combination of these responses.
How is your group dealing with these challenges? What are their concerns? What events or developments or pressures have their attention? How are they responding?
Focus of Your Research and Presentation
E. E-Bibliography
Conclude your Power Point presentation with an electronic bibliography of at least 10 reseources that you feel are helpful in understanding this group and its worldview.
At least some of these bibliographic resources should be ones that were created or produced by persons who were or are, themselves, members of the group you have studied.
PresentationGuidelines
Your group will have 30 minutes for your presentation.
All group members should play a meaningful role in delivering your presentation.
Have the organization and flow of your presentation well planned in advance.
When speaking, make good eye contact with your audience. Try not to “read” from notes or from slides.
Please do not sit. Stand front and center when speaking to your audience.
Multimedia Presentation Oral lectures
PowerPoint slides
Visual images
Videos
Music
Web sites
Charts, graphs, maps
Artifacts or objects
Relevant DatesGroup Work Days
(No Regular Class)(No Regular Class)Work Time
April 06
April 22
Presentation Days