Session 3 | Theology & World View BIG IDEAS: · There is a worldly system that is contrary to biblical truth that wars against your soul. · Self-reflection to isolate areas where hidden worldviews, alien to Christianity, have crept into our thoughts and lifestyles. · To provoke you, as a follower of Christ to adopt and live out a Christian worldview. Worldview-A worldview is a collection of attitudes, values, stories and expectations about the world around us, which inform our every thought and action. A pattern of ideas, beliefs, convictions, and habits that help us make sense of God, the world, and our relationship to God and the world. 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1. Religious World Views Christianity: The belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and the teachings of Jesus Christ, such as the Sermon on the Mount, which emphasizes love, humility, and forgiveness. The Christian worldview offers a narrative of all history. This narrative starts with the special creation of human beings by God, delves into the consequences of their fall from grace, and promises redemption through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and his subsequent resurrection. Islam: The Five Pillars of Islam, including the declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), almsgiving (Zakat), and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Islam means “submission.” Those who submit to Allah and his prophet Muhammad are called Muslims. Hinduism: The concept of Dharma (duty/ethics) and Karma (action and subsequent reaction), as well as practices like yoga and meditation to achieve spiritual growth. Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which guide followers towards enlightenment by promoting right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Secularism: Secularism comes from the Latin word saecularis, roughly meaning “of men,” “of this world,” or “of this time.” Secularists believe humans are the center of reality. They disdain the influence of those who believe in ideas of gods, an after-life, or anything beyond what we can sense. The primary identifying characteristic of Secularism is its non-belief in other worldviews. 2. Philosophical World Views Existentialism: Jean-Paul Sartre's idea that "existence precedes essence," meaning individuals create their own meaning and purpose through their choices and actions. Nihilism: The belief in the absence of meaning or purpose in life. Friedrich Nietzsche's declaration that "God is dead," reflecting the belief that life lacks inherent meaning, and individuals must create their own values. Stoicism: Puts the emphasis on rationality, self-control, and virtue. Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations," which emphasizes the importance of self-control, rational thinking, and accepting things beyond one's control. Marxism: Marxism was invented by Karl Marx, a scholar determined to demonstrate that ownership of private property, the basis for capitalism, is the root of the world’s evils. To Marx, history could be defined as a struggle between the haves (the owners) and the have-nots (the workers). If only the workers would rise up to overthrow the owners, they could form a worker’s paradise in which all wrongs are righted, all possessions shared, and all injustices brought to an end. The utopian state at the end of this long and bloody struggle is called communism. New Spirituality: is a free-flowing combination of Eastern religions, paganism, and pseudo-science. Some of the best-selling books of all time describe a world spiritual in nature but not governed by a personal, all-powerful God. Rather, the spirituality in the world is “consciousness,” an energy in which we all participate and can even learn to control. 3. Scientific World Views Empiricism: The scientific method, which relies on observation, experimentation, and evidence to draw conclusions about the natural world. Rationalism: René Descartes' famous statement "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), highlighting the role of reason and logic in understanding reality. Naturalism: The belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes. Example: Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains the diversity of life through natural processes without invoking supernatural explanations. 4. Cultural World Views Western: Values of individualism, democracy, and progress. Example: The emphasis on individual rights and freedoms, as seen in the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Eastern: Highlight the focus on community, harmony, and tradition. Example: The Confucian value of filial piety, which stresses the importance of respect and duty towards one's parents and ancestors. Indigenous: Explain the connection to nature, spirituality, and community. Example: The Native American concept of the interconnectedness of all living things, often expressed through practices like the use of medicine wheels and storytelling to convey spiritual and cultural knowledge. 1 Peter 2:8-12 They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 1 John 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. Romans 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Belief Systems some identify as worldviews: · Individualism- Individualism is a social and political philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth and autonomy of the individual. It advocates for personal independence, self-reliance, and the prioritization of individual interests over those of the state or social groups. Individualists believe that values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, and they often resist external interference from society or institutions in personal matters. · Consumerism- Consumerism refers to the cultural orientation that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. Consumerism can lead to materialism, environmental degradation, and a decline in overall well-being. The constant pursuit of material possessions may result in lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of anxiety and depression. · Nationalism- Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state, asserting that such obligations surpass other individual or group interests. · Moral Relativism- Moral relativism is the philosophical viewpoint that moral judgments and values are not absolute but are relative to the cultural, societal, or personal contexts in which they arise. Normative Moral Relativism: According to this view, because there are no universal moral standards, individuals should tolerate and accept the moral practices of others, even when they conflict with one's own moral beliefs. · Naturalism- In philosophy, naturalism posits that only natural laws and forces operate in the universe, rejecting supernatural explanations. This perspective, often termed metaphysical or ontological naturalism, asserts that everything arises from natural properties and causes, aligning closely with materialism. (Literature, Visual Arts and Theatre have different naturalism definitions.) · The New Age- The term "New Age" encompasses a broad spectrum of spiritual and cultural phenomena that gained prominence in Western societies during the 1970s and 1980s. Characterized by a diverse array of beliefs and practices, the New Age movement is often associated with themes of personal transformation, holistic health, and a synthesis of various spiritual traditions. Postmodernism: The father of Postmodernism, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, teachings strongly influence higher education to this day. In short, though, we can say Postmodernism began as a reaction against modernism, the idea that science and human reason could solve humankind’s most pressing problems. · Post Modern Tribalism- Postmodern tribalism refers to the resurgence of group identities in contemporary society, where individuals increasingly define themselves through affiliations based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other specific characteristics and also often questions the universality of truth and embraces the relativity of perspectives—tribalism manifests as a retreat into smaller, more defined communities. · Salvation by therapy (Moral Therapeutic Deism)-- five core tenets: A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when needed to resolve a problem. Good people go to heaven when they die. These beliefs emphasize a moralistic approach to life, focusing on being good and fair, and a therapeutic aspect where the primary goal is individual happiness and self-satisfaction. The term "deism" is used to denote a belief in a god who created the world but is not intimately involved in daily affairs, except when called upon to solve problems. ”When wellness guides your spirit you are your own Guru.” Charles Coristine Colossians 2:8-10 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. TAKEAWAYS: • If you are a follower of Christ, to adopt and live out a Christian worldview. • What are some practical ways to live a Christian Worldview • What are some potential detractors from living out your faith.