Regent University Faculty Regent University Faculty RetreatRetreat

August 2005August 2005

Michael PalmerMichael Palmer

Workshop FormatWorkshop Format General Topic: WorldviewGeneral Topic: Worldview Part I: Setting the StagePart I: Setting the Stage BreakBreak Part II: Small group discussionPart II: Small group discussion Part III: Plenary review and discussionPart III: Plenary review and discussion

My Approach to the My Approach to the TopicTopic

In general, I prefer to approach the In general, I prefer to approach the topic:topic: Descriptively rather than prescriptivelyDescriptively rather than prescriptively Inductively, using examples from a wide Inductively, using examples from a wide

variety of sources: historical, literary, variety of sources: historical, literary, biblical, cross-cultural, personalbiblical, cross-cultural, personal

Interactively – conversation, not lectureInteractively – conversation, not lecture

GoalsGoalsBy the end of the workshop you should By the end of the workshop you should

understand:understand: The main components of a worldviewThe main components of a worldview The primary functions of these The primary functions of these

componentscomponents How the various components fit How the various components fit

together to form a wholetogether to form a whole Some of the key challenges we face Some of the key challenges we face

in transmitting our worldview to in transmitting our worldview to younger generationsyounger generations

WorldviewWorldview

What is a Worldview?What is a Worldview?Some Preliminary DefinitionsSome Preliminary Definitions

15th Century Catalan map of the world

A worldview is “the widest view A worldview is “the widest view which the mind can take of things in which the mind can take of things in an effort to grasp them together as a an effort to grasp them together as a whole from the standpoint of some whole from the standpoint of some particular philosophy or theology.”particular philosophy or theology.”

James Orr, James Orr, The Christian View of God The Christian View of God and the Worldand the World (1890) (1890)

A worldview is “the central A worldview is “the central systematization of conceptions of systematization of conceptions of reality to which the members of the reality to which the members of the culture assent (largely culture assent (largely unconsciously) and from which stems unconsciously) and from which stems their value system.” their value system.”

Charles H. Kraft, Charles H. Kraft, Christianity in Christianity in CultureCulture (1979) (1979)

““A people’s world view is their way of A people’s world view is their way of thinking about life and the world, thinking about life and the world, coupled with the values they set for coupled with the values they set for themselves in the context of that themselves in the context of that way of thinking.” way of thinking.”

Nicholas Wolterstorff (1984) Nicholas Wolterstorff (1984)

““For our purposes For our purposes worldviewworldview will be will be defined as ‘the comprehensive defined as ‘the comprehensive framework of one’s basic beliefs about framework of one’s basic beliefs about things’ … [A worldview] belongs to an things’ … [A worldview] belongs to an order of cognition more basic than order of cognition more basic than that of science or theory.”that of science or theory.”

Albert M. Wolters, Albert M. Wolters, Creation Regained: Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Biblical Basics for a Reformational WorldviewWorldview (1985) (1985)

““A worldview (or vision of life) is a A worldview (or vision of life) is a framework or set of fundamental beliefs framework or set of fundamental beliefs through which we view the world and our through which we view the world and our calling and future in it … It is the calling and future in it … It is the integrative and interpretive framework by integrative and interpretive framework by which order and disorder are judged; it is which order and disorder are judged; it is the standard by which reality is managed the standard by which reality is managed and pursued; it is the set of hinges on and pursued; it is the set of hinges on which all our everyday thinking and doing which all our everyday thinking and doing turns.”turns.”

James H. Olthuis, “On Worldviews” (1989)James H. Olthuis, “On Worldviews” (1989)

A worldview is “a comprehensive A worldview is “a comprehensive framework of beliefs that helps us framework of beliefs that helps us interpret what we see and interpret what we see and experience and also gives us experience and also gives us direction in the choices that we make direction in the choices that we make as we live out our days.”as we live out our days.”

Richard T. Wright, Richard T. Wright, Biology Through Biology Through the Eyes of Faiththe Eyes of Faith (1989) (1989)

““In its simplest terms, a worldview is a set of In its simplest terms, a worldview is a set of beliefs about the most important issues in beliefs about the most important issues in life … A fancy term that can be useful here is life … A fancy term that can be useful here is conceptual schemeconceptual scheme, by which I mean a , by which I mean a pattern or arrangement of concepts (ideas). pattern or arrangement of concepts (ideas). A worldview, then is a conceptual scheme by A worldview, then is a conceptual scheme by which we consciously or unconsciously place which we consciously or unconsciously place or fit everything we believe and by which we or fit everything we believe and by which we interpret and judge reality.”interpret and judge reality.”

Ronald H. Nash, Ronald H. Nash, Worldviews in Conflict Worldviews in Conflict (1992)(1992)

““A worldview is a set of A worldview is a set of presuppositions (assumptions which presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic inconsistently) about the basic makeup of our world.”makeup of our world.”

James W. Sire, James W. Sire, Naming the Elephant, Naming the Elephant, Worldview as a ConceptWorldview as a Concept (2004) (2004)

Common Features of the Common Features of the DefinitionsDefinitions

A worldview is principally A worldview is principally a belief a belief systemsystem:: ““from the standpoint of some particular from the standpoint of some particular

philosophy or theology”philosophy or theology” ““the central systematization of conceptions the central systematization of conceptions

of reality”of reality” a “way of thinking about life and the world”a “way of thinking about life and the world” ““the comprehensive framework of one’s the comprehensive framework of one’s

basic beliefs”basic beliefs” ““a framework or set of fundamental beliefs”a framework or set of fundamental beliefs”

A Broader DefinitionA Broader Definition

““A worldview may well be defined as one’s A worldview may well be defined as one’s comprehensive framework of basic beliefs comprehensive framework of basic beliefs about things, but our about things, but our talktalk (confessed beliefs (confessed beliefs or cognitive claims) is one thing, and our or cognitive claims) is one thing, and our walkwalk (operative beliefs) is another and even (operative beliefs) is another and even more important thing. A lived worldview more important thing. A lived worldview defines one’s basic convictions; it defines defines one’s basic convictions; it defines what one is ready to live and die for … [It is] what one is ready to live and die for … [It is] the vision that one gets from home or from the vision that one gets from home or from the public square, the vision that one has the public square, the vision that one has assimilated for oneself with difficulty or assimilated for oneself with difficulty or grown up with, so much so that one almost grown up with, so much so that one almost takes it for granted.”takes it for granted.”

John H. Kok, “Learning to Teach from Within John H. Kok, “Learning to Teach from Within a Christian Perspective” (2003)a Christian Perspective” (2003)

Features of Kok’s Features of Kok’s DefinitionDefinition

Kok reaches beyond strictly cognitive Kok reaches beyond strictly cognitive language and categories:language and categories: beliefs (“talk”); but also behavior beliefs (“talk”); but also behavior

(“walk”)(“walk”) the “lived world”the “lived world” a vision gotten from “the public square”a vision gotten from “the public square” a vision one has “grown up with”a vision one has “grown up with”

So … if a worldview is more than just So … if a worldview is more than just a set of beliefs (philosophical, a set of beliefs (philosophical, theological, or otherwise), then what theological, or otherwise), then what else makes up a worldview?else makes up a worldview?

To answer this question, it is helpful To answer this question, it is helpful to reflect on some concrete data.to reflect on some concrete data.

Chaim Potok’s 1967 Chaim Potok’s 1967 award winning novel, award winning novel, The ChosenThe Chosen, offers , offers several thought several thought provoking hints.provoking hints.

What is a Worldview?What is a Worldview?

A A worldviewworldview is a set of beliefs and is a set of beliefs and practices that shape a person’s practices that shape a person’s approach to the most important approach to the most important issues in life.issues in life.

Through our worldview we:Through our worldview we: determine prioritiesdetermine priorities explain our relationship to God and explain our relationship to God and

fellow human beingsfellow human beings assess the meaning of eventsassess the meaning of events justify our actionsjustify our actions

Our worldview even speaks to the Our worldview even speaks to the most ordinary practices in everyday most ordinary practices in everyday life, including:life, including: the types of things we read, view, and the types of things we read, view, and

listen tolisten to the types of entertainment and leisure the types of entertainment and leisure

activities we seekactivities we seek our approach to work and leisureour approach to work and leisure

Who Has a Worldview?Who Has a Worldview? In the broadest sense, virtually In the broadest sense, virtually everyone has a worldview.everyone has a worldview.

Certainly anyone capable of Certainly anyone capable of understanding the question has a understanding the question has a worldview.worldview.

But not everyone has a worldview in But not everyone has a worldview in the same way.the same way. Some people have a worldview only in Some people have a worldview only in

the sense that they have inherited a set the sense that they have inherited a set of beliefs and practices.of beliefs and practices.

Others have Others have chosenchosen their worldview. their worldview. Choice implies:Choice implies:

reflectionreflection deliberationdeliberation alertnessalertness being present to the alternativesbeing present to the alternatives

IdeologyIdeologyAn An ideologyideology is a set of authoritative is a set of authoritative beliefs or statements that form a beliefs or statements that form a central framework, or system, for central framework, or system, for explaining reality.explaining reality.

“The indispensable and fundamental condition of all action is the freedom of the acting being.” Jean-Paul Sartre

Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.” Gautama the Buddha

Functions of ideology:Functions of ideology: To bring order and To bring order and

coherence to our coherence to our experiencesexperiences

To provide a basis for To provide a basis for assessing the values, assessing the values, insights, and beliefs of insights, and beliefs of othersothers

To define the communityTo define the community

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Content of ideology:Content of ideology: Background theoryBackground theory

The cosmosThe cosmos GodGod HistoryHistory

Account of human nature Account of human nature

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles..."  Karl Marx

NarrativeNarrativeWorldview narratives are stories that tell Worldview narratives are stories that tell something special about the worldview something special about the worldview or about the people who hold it.or about the people who hold it.

Battle of the Alamo

March 6, 1836

Davy Crockett

Don Antonio LopezDe Santa Anna

Worldview narratives may be about:Worldview narratives may be about: A famous personA famous person

The founding of a people or a nationThe founding of a people or a nation

The Origin of the Iroquois Nations

Abraham,Genesis

"Muhammad is the Messengerof Allah.“ Qur’an 48:29

The beginning or end of the worldThe beginning or end of the world

The Apocalypse

Joachim of FioreThree Circles,12th Cent.

Zoroaster, 1500 BCE

Old Man and the Beginning of the WorldBlackfoot Indian legend

Someone’s interaction with God or godsSomeone’s interaction with God or gods

Odysseus returns to Ithaka with the help of the grey-eyed goddess Athena.

Krishna consoles and instructs Prince Arguna as he is about to go into battle.

Job, the faithful servant of God, struggles with the meaning of loss and suffering.

Any event integrally tied to the Any event integrally tied to the worldview.worldview.

Boston massacreMarch 5, 1770

First Crusade1099

Six Day WarJune 1967

Functions of worldview narratives:Functions of worldview narratives: They reinforce and embellish central They reinforce and embellish central

ideological themes.ideological themes. They provide patterns, or models, for They provide patterns, or models, for

the adherents of the worldview. the adherents of the worldview.

Types of worldview narratives:Types of worldview narratives: Sacred writingsSacred writings

MythsMyths

“How Coyote Stole Fire,”Native American myth

Historical narrativesHistorical narratives

Literature & dramaLiterature & drama

Visual art and architectureVisual art and architecture

ArtifactsArtifacts

NormsNorms A norm is a standard of some kind.A norm is a standard of some kind. Examples:Examples:

Legal standardsLegal standards: 70 mph Interstate : 70 mph Interstate highway speed limithighway speed limit

Religious standardsReligious standards: Sabbath keeping: Sabbath keeping Culinary standardsCulinary standards: French fries should : French fries should

be golden crispbe golden crisp Etiquette standardsEtiquette standards: Greet acquaintances : Greet acquaintances

when you pass them in the hallwhen you pass them in the hall

Typically, two of the most important Typically, two of the most important norms in a worldview are its norms in a worldview are its moralmoral and and aestheticaesthetic norms. norms.

Thou shalt not kill.Thou shalt not commit adultery.Thou shalt not steal.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Egyptian Proportion Canon

(rules governing depiction of the human

form)

Moral normsMoral norms govern behavior and character govern behavior and character development.development.

They are standards that require, prohibit, or They are standards that require, prohibit, or allow certain kinds of behavior or the allow certain kinds of behavior or the development of certain kinds of character traits.development of certain kinds of character traits.

The Master said, “A young man should be a good son at home and an obedient young man abroad, sparing of speech but trustworthy in what he says, and should love the multitude at large but cultivate the friendship of his fellow men. If he has any energy to spare from such action, let him devote it to making himself cultivated.

Aesthetic normsAesthetic norms are standards by which we are standards by which we judge what is beautiful, pleasant, or sublime.judge what is beautiful, pleasant, or sublime.

Example: Islam forbids “image making,” symbols, Example: Islam forbids “image making,” symbols, and most types of 3-dimensional sculpture. As a and most types of 3-dimensional sculpture. As a result, in architecture Muslims commonly use result, in architecture Muslims commonly use geometric or arabesque motifs.geometric or arabesque motifs.

RitualRitualA ritual is a A ritual is a ceremonial act ceremonial act performed periodically performed periodically on special occasions on special occasions to reenact or recall an to reenact or recall an important event, to important event, to memorialize a notable memorialize a notable person, or to mark an person, or to mark an important transition.important transition. African funeral dance

Burkina Faso

Kinds of rituals:Kinds of rituals:

Rituals intended to renew bondsRituals intended to renew bonds

Rituals that recreate an event, making it Rituals that recreate an event, making it real in the presentreal in the present

Rituals that facilitate transitionRituals that facilitate transition

ancient Egyptian burial

Christian infant baptism

Thai wedding

Essential features of all rituals:Essential features of all rituals: They provide an occasion for reflecting They provide an occasion for reflecting

on the meaning of one’s core beliefson the meaning of one’s core beliefs They are intended to evoke an affective They are intended to evoke an affective

response to one’s core beliefsresponse to one’s core beliefs

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Abraham LincolnGettysburg, PennsylvaniaNovember 19, 1863

ExperienceExperience Typically, when people embrace a Typically, when people embrace a

worldview, they do so with their whole worldview, they do so with their whole person.person.

This means that when they embrace a This means that when they embrace a worldview, they commit themselves not worldview, they commit themselves not just intellectually but also emotionally and just intellectually but also emotionally and spiritually.spiritually.

Where this is so, the importance of certain Where this is so, the importance of certain affective and spiritual experiences will rival affective and spiritual experiences will rival the importance of ideology, the rational the importance of ideology, the rational element of a worldview.element of a worldview.

Cambodian killing fields, mid to late 1970s Sioux destruction of Custer’s 7th Cavalry

at the Little Big Horn, June 25, 1876, as recounted by Black Elk. (Drawing by Standing Bear.)

“Little Boy” explodes over Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945.

Three important points:Three important points:1. Experience is not an incidental 1. Experience is not an incidental feature of a worldview.feature of a worldview.2. Experience is integrally bound up 2. Experience is integrally bound up with ideology and norms.with ideology and norms.3. Although experience is commonly 3. Although experience is commonly interpreted by ideology and norms, it interpreted by ideology and norms, it often also shapes (reinforces, often also shapes (reinforces, modifies, or undermines) them.modifies, or undermines) them.

Social ElementSocial Element The social element of a The social element of a

worldview refers to the worldview refers to the network of social network of social arrangements and arrangements and institutions that institutions that constitutes the social constitutes the social setting of people who setting of people who hold a certain hold a certain worldview.worldview.

No worldview can survive apart from No worldview can survive apart from a social setting that permits and a social setting that permits and encourages the transmission of encourages the transmission of beliefs, stories, norms, and rituals beliefs, stories, norms, and rituals from one generation to the next.from one generation to the next.

Every generation faces two tasks, which social Every generation faces two tasks, which social arrangements and institutions facilitate:arrangements and institutions facilitate:

1) Social arrangements and institutions 1) Social arrangements and institutions facilitate transmitting to the next facilitate transmitting to the next generation the accumulated wisdom generation the accumulated wisdom and insights from earlier generations.and insights from earlier generations.

Folklore, legends, myths

Technology

Spiritual and moral

wisdom

Family history

Cultural heritageTechniques, routines, know-how

Rituals

Proverbial wisdom

Moral

principlesAesthetic sensibility

Practices

2) Social arrangements and institutions 2) Social arrangements and institutions help the next generation cope with help the next generation cope with cultural (social, political, religious) cultural (social, political, religious) trends in the present.trends in the present.

Family, religious, and cultural stability

Evaluative and interpretive

skillsStrategies for dealing with

problems

Parenting, nurturing, and life skills