...Defining Secular and Biblical Worldviews Helen M. Pombert Liberty University Defining Secular and Biblical Worldviews I. Defining a Secular Worldview The term worldview was formulated between 1855 and 1860, with many scholars believing that it arrived approximately 1858. The term is derived from the German word “Welt-anschauung”. According to Ergun Caner, this is a union of two German words: (1) welt, the word for world; and (2) anschauung, the word for perception. Several online dictionaries have various definitions for worldview. The Free Dictionary by Farley defines worldview as (1) The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world; (2) A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. The website www.asa3.org/ASA/education/views/index.html defines worldview as a theory of the world, used for living in the world. It also calls it a mental model of reality – a framework of ideas and attitudes about the world, ourselves, and life, a comprehensive system of beliefs – with answers for a wide range of questions. Other sources have called worldview a perspective, collection of beliefs, a theory about life, an interpretation of life, presuppositions or assumptions about life. There are as many definitions as there are people. Thus, worldview can be described as belief, perception, idea, model, attitude, answers to questions, etc. Freethesaurus.net also uses some of the following synonyms to describe...
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...Nature of Religion and Beliefs What is a Worldview? One of the biggest problems of present society is the effect of overall change and acceleration on human psychology. Neither individual minds nor collective culture seem able to cope with the unpredictable change and growing complexity. Stress, uncertainty and frustration increase, minds are overloaded with information, knowledge fragments, values erode, negative developments are consistently overemphasized, while positive ones are ignored. The resulting climate is one of nihilism, anxiety and despair. While the wisdom gathered in the past has lost much of its validity, we don't have a clear vision of the future either. As a result, there does not seem to be anything left to guide our actions. What we need is a framework that ties everything together, that allows us to understand society, the world, and our place in it, and that could help us to make the critical decisions which will shape our future. It would synthesize the wisdom gathered in the different scientific disciplines, philosophies and religions. Rather than focusing on small sections of reality, it would provide us with a picture of the whole. In particular, it would help us to understand, and therefore cope with, complexity and change. Such a conceptual framework may be called a "world view". A model of the world It should allow us to understand how the world functions and how it is structured. "World" here means the totality, everything that exists around...
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...Hocker & Wilmost ‘s Interpersonal Conflict defines conflict as an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals. James Anderson says in his article What is a Worldview, “worldviews play a central and defining role in our lives. They shape what we believe and what we’re willing to believe, how we interpret our experiences, how we behave in response to those experiences, and how we relate to others. Our thoughts and our actions are conditioned by our worldviews.” Thinking about how our worldview relates to conflict it is clear to see the connection between the different aspects of conflict as define by Hocker & Wilmost. If...
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...Defining Worldview The meaning of the term “worldview” is a structure of beliefs of which a person uses and looks through when examining the world around them (Hindson & Caner, 2008). The Biblical Worldview Origin The biblical/Christian Worldview of origin is God created humans and the world. Psalm 100:3 says that the Lord is who created humans and humans are His people. Romans 1:20 talks about God creating the world, allowing for His power and His divine nature being able to be seen clearly throughout the whole world. Identity The biblical/Christian Worldview of identity is that humans are a special creation of the eternal God (Weider & Gutierrez, 2013). God created mankind in His own image, making humans different than animals (Genesis 1:27). God...
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...Worldview Assignment Submitted to Professor Marks, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course, APOL 104 D27 LUO Contemporary Worldviews Liberty University Online By Ryan Mapleton 4/6/2015 Defining Worldview A worldview is the person’s philosophy about life, a framework a person bring to decision-making, and a filter or lens which a person uses to interpret life and the word around them. The Biblical Worldview Origin The usual questions that are asked when finding the question of origin are “How did life begin?” and “How did mankind come into existence?” In biblical worldview, God is the reason that everything exist. The Bible says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). It is professed by the psalmist, David that God is his creator (Psalms 136: 13 -16). Identity “What does it mean to be human?” and “Are humans more important than animals?” are the questions asked to seek the answer of the question of identity. In biblical worldview, God created mankind above the animal because it says in the bible that men and women were created in Gods image. The bible tells us that we are supposed to take of the animals (Genesis 1:26-27). Psalms 8:5 states that man was created “little lower than angels.” Meaning and Purpose The specific question that is mainly asked to answer the question of meaning and purpose is that “Why does mankind exist?” or “Why do I exist?” In the biblical worldview, it’s about...
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...Review this material as you prepare for the quiz. Not everything in this guide will be on the quiz, and not everything on the quiz will derive from this guide. Indeed, you should carefully review the readings for other noteworthy facts, terms, or concepts that you might encounter on the quiz. KEY TERMS Communis The expositional approach to the study of communication The rhetorical approach to the study of communication Claude Shannon, Warren Weaver, and Wilbur Schramm Sender Recipient Encoding Decoding Transmission Physical barriers to communication Linguistic barriers to communication Belief barriers to communication Stereotypes Informed generalizations SUMMARY An introductory communication text rightly begins by defining its core concept, communication. After defining communication and showing how it comes into existence, this chapter distinguishes different types of communication from each other. Communication derives from the Latin root word communis. In English, this root word means common, general, universal, or public. When a person believes, feels, values, or acts as one with another person, communis exists. Communication can be studied in two basic ways. The expositional approach studies attitudes, values, beliefs, feelings, or behaviors that unify people as a whole or particular groups of people. The rhetorical approach studies the steps people take in their quests to establish shared attitudes, values, beliefs, feelings, or behaviors with others. Communication is the...
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...Hughes 1 Kashawahara Hughes Paul Weaver APOL 104 March/7/2016 Worldview Part I What is a worldview? Worldview is how a person interprets and see the world around them. A person’s worldview will determine how they interact with everything and everyone around them. The view will consist of someone’s morals, values, and beliefs. Worldview serves as the basis for how someone will judge themselves and others. A person’s worldview dictates their perception of reality and how they will live their life daily. (Part I count: 65) Part II The Question of Origin God is seen as the creator of everything. He is said to have created everyone and everything out of nothing. The first chapter of Genesis describes His total process of creation. It says how God spoke everything into existence. Moses talks about God as the first cause in second Peter. The Question of Identity Mankind is one of God’s greatest creations. We are said to be made in his image. We were also given the responsibility to rule over all the animals and to be their caretakers in Genesis 2. Psalms 8 states how mankind are above the animals but a little lower than the angels. The Question of Meaning and Purpose It is believed that maybe our sole purpose is to know God. We as Christians our main goal is to have a strong relationship with God and not just simply go with the tenants of the religion. In John 17 it talks about how our purpose is that we may know God and Jesus Christ whom God sent to us. In Deuteronomy...
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...Hidden Worldviews: Chapter 3 Consumerism Chapter three of Hidden Worldviews by Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford is about consumerism and the fine line between consuming things the way we should through Scripture and using much more than we actually need, making us consumers. At the most basic level, we all must consumer things. It unavoidable to not eat, drink, wear or live all must come from nature. That is any form of biological life. Humans however are more than this and must fulfill our social, educational, cultural and spiritual needs and desires. This requires natural resources to a degree. It is impossible to say that the consumption that makes life possible is bad. Beyond this though, it is clear that we must consume things to preserve and enhance our lives, but there is also the danger that responsible consumption will degenerate into consumerism. Consumerism is “a worldview that starts wit something that is a relative good-consumption- and makes it an absolute good” (Wilkens & Sanford pg. 45). Those that are consumers believe that we can find fulfillment by accumulating wealth and everything that comes with it. Although a consumerist “worldview is that almost non one will admit that they believe that salvation can be found by acquiring and using things” (Wilkens & Sanford pg. 45). We use way more than we actually need but why do we do this? They proceed to explain reasons why we continue to se more than we need. We all desire fulfilling and satisfying lives...
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...Christian Worldview Worldview Essay Many people go about their lives believing and practicing different religions. These beliefs usually develop through how an individual interprets or perceives reality, also known as a worldview. Everyone may not follow a certain religion or believe in the same God or a God at all, but everyone has a set of views and beliefs about the universe and life in general that they live their life by. Whether it is conscious or subconscious, everyone possesses a worldview. A Christian worldview is a more specific belief system that consists of many aspects. It is a view that mediates from our understanding and experiences of the world and I believe that my worldview generally matches up to that of a Christian worldview, but has its differences. Christians generally believe that God is the center and origin of all things, he is self-defining and he created everyone for a specific purpose. For one, I do believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am also a follower of the Christian faith. However, I am still young and trying to discover different aspects of myself and how I see and interpret the world. Since I am still experiencing the world and seeing different aspects of it daily, my worldview is constantly changing. What I perceive as my worldview has its similarities and differences from a Christian worldview. For example, there are two views to the development of the universe. One is that the universe was an accident and just happened...
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...Biblical Worldview Essay No Name Liberty University Introduction A worldview is defined as “ a window through which he or she views the world” (Entwistle, 2010, pg. 55). Worldviews are based on the beliefs of an individual and define how he or she perceives events of life. From a Christian worldview perceptions are defined by faith in God and therefore all truth known to humanity is of God. This applies whether truth is discovered Scriptural or scientifically. From this basis the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture can be defined from a Christian worldview. More specifically, Romans 1 through 8 gives insight into these subjects. The Natural World The natural world is perceived differently based on the worldview an individual holds. From a naturalism perception the material or physical universe is the only reality. In other words, if you do not subscribe to the belief or existence of ghost, spirits, gods, or souls than you hold to the worldview of naturalism. On the other extreme, if you believe that everything is an illusion and only the spiritual universe exist than you hold to a pantheism worldview. From this perspective it is impossible to know what is real within the natural world because everything is unknowable. If an individual holds to the belief that there are gods and demons that create events to guide human actions than they have a polytheism worldview. Scripture states that God created the entire world and that His eternal power...
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...PART ONE A worldview is known to be a person’s viewpoint of life and the outline the person brings to decision-making. It deals with our intellect, emotion, and will. The difference of defining worldview and biblical worldview is that biblical worldview reiterates what is already defined in worldview but it evolves around God and the Bible is what is used to frame this view. PART TWO 1. The Question of Origin – The origination of biblical worldview belongs to and starts with God. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Theistic worldviews such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity believe the same. We, Christians, describe Him as being Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Sovereign, and Immutable. God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1) He is the Creator God. “Most Christian churches teach that God is triune and all three Persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) of the Godhead were involved in the creation of universe and mankind.” (Weider and Gutierrez 2011, 56) Scripture references to the question of origin are in Genesis 1:1 and 2 Peter 1:21. 2. The Question of Identity - Genesis 1:27 says that man was created in the image of God. Humans are a special creation of God. “In Judaism and Christianity, God created mankind above the animal and man was created a little lower than the angels.” (Weider and Gutierrez 2011, 58) By us being that special creation, we are identified as rulers of the animals and to oversee them. Our...
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...Worldview may hold many different meanings, such as “a set of assumptions about reality that affect how we think and how we live.” (Cosgrove, 2006, p.19) Society as a whole has their own view on how the world and its components should go together. Although we may not all share the same worldviews, we do have the ability to express our own opinions and arguments on them. There is a minimum of “five clusters of beliefs” which include God, reality, knowledge, ethics and human nature. (Nash, 1999, p.14) Some worldviews may contain other beliefs, “these five define the most important differences among competing conceptual systems.” (Nash, 1999, p.14) First we look at a crucial part of any worldview. While the world holds many different religions the underlying question is there a God and only one God and is he a personal being? Within the different cultures of society cultures such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Shintoism all share their own difference of worldview and belief in God. While we share different views on the world we share a common belief in God, while the beliefs do vary, we share that common ground within any religion. Metaphysics (ultimate reality) covers the basis of God and the universe, is the universe eternal, did God create the world and what is the purpose of the universe/cosmos? These questions have all been asked by society and we answer them to the best of our ability. We do not all share the same answers, but we have a belief in how the universe...
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...Defining Worldviews Part I. What is a worldview? According to Caner a “worldview is the framework of beliefs by which a person views the world around him” (498). A persons’ worldview can be influenced by many things including family, friends, educations, and media. Weider breaks down what a worldview is into three easy points “a person’s philosophy of life, a framework a person brings to decision-making, and a filter or lens that a person uses to interpret life and the world around them” (59). People may claim that they don’t have a worldview but that isn’t true everyone has a worldview whether they know it or not. A person’s worldview helps them deal with everyday issues. 106 Part II. There are three types of worldviews that can help answer the five questions of origin, identity, meaning/purpose, morality, and destiny. The three types of worldviews are naturalism, pantheism, and theism. The question of origin, how did life begin? And how did mankind come into existence? According to theism everything is in existence because of God, that he is the creator of everything in life including human life. The bible supports this belief, as shown in Genesis 1:1 and in Jeremiah 32:17 both referring to how God alone created the heavens and the earth and that nothing was too great for him. I think that most Christians believe the theist approach of answering the questions of origin because the scripture teaches you that everything including the heavens, the earth, and human life was...
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...ASSIGNMENT UNGS 2030 ASSIGNMENT UNGS 2030 TITLE WORLDVIEW : MEANING, NECESSITY AND ELEMENT ACCORDING TO MUSLIM SCHOLARS TITLE WORLDVIEW : MEANING, NECESSITY AND ELEMENT ACCORDING TO MUSLIM SCHOLARS LECTURER : MD. YOUSUF ALI SECTION: 2 LECTURER : MD. YOUSUF ALI SECTION: 2 NAME : MUNA AMANI BINTI FISAL MATRIC NO : 1218352 THE DEFINITION AND CONCEPT OF WORLDVIEWS From the perspective of Islam, a 'worldview' is not merely the mind's view of the physical world and of man's historical, social, political, and cultural involvement in it. According to Prof. Naquib Al-Attas, the worldview of Islam is not based upon philosophical speculation formulated mainly from observation of the data sensible experience, of what is visible to the eye nor it is restricted to the world of sensible experience, the world of created things. Islam does not concede to the dichotomy of the sacred and the profane. He says that the worldview of Islam encompasses both al-dunya and al-akhirah, in which the dunya-aspect must be related in profound and inseparable way to the akhirah-aspect, in which the akhirah-aspect has the ultimate and final significance. The dunya-aspect is seen as preparation for the akhirah-aspect without thereby implying any attitude of neglect or being unmindful of the dunya-aspect. What is meant by 'worldview' according to the perspective of Islam, is then the vision of reality and truth that appears before the mind's eye revealing what existence is all about;...
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...Worldview Assignment APOL 104- D09 July 15, 2013 Worldview Assignment A worldview is shaped by the opinions, thoughts and conclusions of others, such as parents, teachers, media, friends and our religious leaders. What we receive from these sources will play an important role for years to come in defining who we are as individuals, our belief systems, how we view our fellowman, the schools we attend and where we live. In addition, it affects morality and how we define right and wrong, social and political issues. The way we view the world has a direct correlation to our decision-making, which will not only impact our lives in a positive or negative manner, but those around us. The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it for his glory (Gen 1:1). The Universe did not come into existence by happenstance as the Secularist would have you to believe, but the work of intelligent design (John 1:3). The Bible is the standard by which the Christian Biblical Worldview is framed and our standard for living. Humanity began when God articulated that He was the architect of it. God took dust from the ground and created Adam and breathed life in him, and out of Adam came Eve. What makes humanity so special is that we were not spoken into existence, but sculptured by the loving hand of God, in his image and likeness. We did not evolve from the animal kingdom as Darwinism states. Humanity is unlike any other creation of God; we were...
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