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Christian Worldiew

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Personal worldview inventory
Eric Atkinson
Grand Canyon University: Spirituality in healthcare HLT-310V
May 3, 2015

A Worldview is a unique intangible commitment to ideas that one has about the environment around them and a commitment or fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presupposition (James 2004). For a Christian, God and the Scriptures shape the foundation of, and thus having profound impact on the whole, worldview. To better understand the concept of world view seven basic questions need to be resolved, One: What is prime reality? Prime reality is the most important question and it needs to be answered first. This gives the other six questions boundaries by getting to the heart of how we view our reality or the ultimate reality. The answer to one simple question, do you believe in God? Defines and sets the tone for a worldview. Two: What is the nature of the world around us? This is the idea that we can know both God himself and the word around us as God has an active role in communicating with us allowing us to do so. Three: What is a human being? The Christian understanding is that humans were created in God’s image. Being created in Gods image means we need to look to him for meaning, direction and for purpose. God made humans in his image and gave man dominion/stewardship over all that resides here. Four: What happens at death? This is the point where mortal life ends and one transcends into the spirit kingdom of God to continue living. Five: Why is it possible to know anything at all? It is possible because God constructed the ability to know not only the world around us but the ability to know him as well. This is don’t through God actively communicating through Scriptures, Prayers, the Holy Spirit, and Prophets. They all work in seeking light truth and knowledge from God. Six: How do we know what is right and wrong. Ethics and what is right verses what is wrong is based on the character of God. This is true for both right and wrong, God is the way the truth and the light. Christianity does point to the 10commandmants as absolutes, however following those commandments should serve as a guide in dictating ones actions. The truth doesn’t change, however context does. Striving to do good is our moral, God loving nature. Relativism seeks for absolutes with the idea of if something isn’t “A” then it must be “B” or “if it feels good do it” mentality. All with the goal of solidly dividing the acceptable with the unacceptable. In doing so can sometimes lead to the separation of one from another by refusing to respect others decisions or choices, different that our own. Instead we should act on good thinking, Prayer, and scripture along with guidance from the Holy Spirit, helping discern the alternative. Seven: What is the meaning of human history? Human history is, in a simple idea, a linear form of progression in God’s purpose for humanity. “For Behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, Moses 1:39, (Smith 1952), the basic steps for mankind are Creation, the fall, redemption and glorification/resurrection. Going through life knowing there is a purpose and reason for it, aides in illustrating a positive interpretation of the world in which we live. We are only human, we make mistakes and that is all part of the design of Gods plan. Knowing the desire of God is for us to attain immortality and eternal life is a huge motivating force driving the focus of my world view and my own personal actions. God, Ethics and Nature are the three main components of my worldview. God lays the foundation, Ethics shapes my moral character while human nature seeks new experiences. Lead by example, Thinking of others before oneself, Taking ownership of ones actions and the resulting consequences, and staying true to my beliefs and values, all are points I do my best to fulfill in all I do though my thoughts and actions as seen from my personal world view.

References

James W. Sire, Naming the Elephant: Worldview as Concept (Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity Press,
2004), p. 122.
Smith, J., & Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (1952). the Pearl of Great Price: Moses. Salt Lake
City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4

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