Worldview Essay
Introduction
I have struggled trying to discover my worldview this entire course because I have always thought of myself as a Christian even though I grew up Catholic. I believe that this course has taught me many different things and the most perplexing of all is that I now believe my worldview is most like Humanistic Naturalism and slightly neutral. In writing this paper I will address questions concerning religion, God, and morality using my opinions that support my conclusion to my own personal worldview.
Worldview Assumptions Before this course started I assumed that it would be sort of like Sunday school and we would be learning about and reciting scriptures for seven weeks. I did not understand what a worldview was but assumed it was as simple as how I viewed the world. I assumed the course would be boring and very repetitive. In regards to religion I assumed that everybody who believed in God was Christian. I also assumed that most students’ views of God, the Bible and religion would be similar. My assumptions were not very accurate and I feel much more knowledgeable on the subject of worldviews and religion and the Bible now than I did at the beginning of this course.
Who is God? Before this course I assumed people who believed in God believed the same thing about God but depending on who is asked the question, who is God we may get many different variations based off of people’s differing worldviews. For example, a Humanistic Naturalist may say that “God as Creator is superfluous, because purely natural forces were capable of doing and actually did do all the work of creation.” (Grifin 2000) This is where the complexity of the question and my worldview gives me the belief that I am neutral because I am so unsure of what I believe. However, I do believe that I do not believe that quote, but I do not believe the Christian worldview entirely either. Maybe I have not gained enough knowledge for myself to make enough of an educational decision that I am okay with.
What is a Human Being and what Happens When One Dies? Regarding life after death it is my personal belief man has evolved in so many ways because of our curiosity, our ability to make mistakes, learn from them and make decisions on how we choose to live. This frame of thought “rejects the super naturalistic idea that the various forms of life were created ex nihilo, but also excludes any kind of divine activity in the evolution of the various forms of life.” (Griffin 2000) Time after time when I sit and think about life after death, I am honestly uncertain but I also certainly hope that there is one. I always thought that I was certain there was life after death, but quite honestly I do not believe that I am. It is my honest uncertainty that makes feel like the only view regarding life after death is neutral.
What is the Nature of the Universe? I believe that the universe as a whole is naturally going to evolve in ways that will benefit the universe as a whole. I believe that man is the dictator regarding the universal evolution. Throughout our lives we are curious which is why we discover, we live, we work hard to earn a living, and we achieve an education in order to live better than we did when we were growing up. I also believe that most people are trying to do well, “the good is not what some abstract God dictates, but what contributes to the liberation, growth, and progress of human beings.” (Veith, 1994) Like animals, humans will naturally battle to improve their status, and provide for their family. The difference of course is that humans have the ability to adapt, learn, and live in a civil manner.
How do you know what you know? In my opinion a person’s life knowledge is gained through personal life experiences and all academic knowledge can be confirmed through research. “I learn from what I can see, hear, taste, touch and smell, and however my scientific instruments can expand on those senses.” (Cosgrove 2006) I personally feel a little bit different than most strict naturalists who believe that, “Survival is the key in naturalism as to what is good. If some behavior helps you or your race to survive, then let us call that behavior morally good. If some behavior hurts your survival, then let us call it morally bad.” (Cosgrove 2006) In my soul I believe it most important to be a good hearted person with good intentions always. I must be a great husband, father, and role model. My core beliefs are based on what I was a part of growing up and a few other adults that I looked up to as a child. I want to make my family proud to say that I am their father and my wife to say he is my husband. Perhaps most importantly I must live a life in which I lead by an example that my children will benefit from their entire life. The way I treat people and the decisions I make are all in accordance with what I believe would be acceptable if it were my children making the same decisions.
What is Right and Wrong? For me to be able to rate my life as right I must perform at a high level consistently, faithfully, and lovingly. I absolutely must improve to grow positively, professionally and personally. I believe that with unheralded ambition and dedication to my duties I will achieve prosperity. I also must be very influential within my home and ensure that my children are viewing a man that is capable of loving, working hard, and maintaining a positive attitude through tough times because the belief in our home is that everything happens for a reason and we do not know that reason, but we need to address each issue with a moral compass that will keep us within our boundaries of doing good things. If I fail in my attempts to live my life in these ways I consider my life as wrong.
What Core Commitments are Consistent with my Worldview? I try to stay true to my worldview but still today I am unsure exactly what mine is. I believe that I have found a way to honor my core beliefs with a mix of Christian and Naturalist worldviews. I try and live a life that is worthy of God’s grace and an eternal life. At the same time I am continually trying to be promoted and advance in my career so I can provide the best life and future for my family. I find myself spending my time on things that I can affect now and things that affect me rather than spending spiritual time in church for example. I also speak with God everyday and I feel that I have an intimate relationship with him.
Is Life Pointless or is there Purpose? With regard to mans purpose in life is to work hard and accomplish as much as possible professionally and personally. I also believe that a man’s purpose is to provide for his family and secure a future for them by saving money and becoming their role model and an example that they can emulate in life as they become adults. I do not believe that this is completely the belief of a Christian worldview because they believe they must live to serve and follow God and the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to be granted eternal life once they die.
How has my Worldview changed over the Course of this Class? During the last seven weeks in this course I have been exposed to several worldviews. I really was not sure what a worldview even was before this course and to this day I am not exactly sure what mine is. Though I have more knowledge of different worldviews my core values and beliefs have not wavered. Right now I am just trying to figure out where those core values and beliefs fit in best. In an attempt to identify my personal worldview in this course I have been able to exclude any possibility of some different worldviews most specifically an Atheist. I have also learned to respect each and every worldview I have been exposed to because each student has expressed valid reasons for their beliefs.
Conclusion
In my worldview essay I have tried to bring some clarity to the knowledge and belief of my personal worldview. I explained some of my assumptions prior to the beginning of this course. I have written about who God is, what a human being is and what happens when one dies. Next I discussed the nature of the universe and how I know what I know. Finally, I wrote about what is right and wrong, some core commitments consistent with my worldview and weather life is pointless or if there is a purpose. Finally I wrote about if my Worldview changed over the Course of this Class.

References:
Cosgrove, M. P. (2006). Foundations of Christian Thought: Faith, Learning, and the Christian Worldview. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications
Griffin, D. (2000). Religion and Scientific Naturalism: Overcoming the Conflicts. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Veith, G. (1994). Postmodern times: A Christian guide to contemporary thought and culture. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
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