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Introduction to Worldview

Introduction to Worldview. What is a worldview?. “A worldview is a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world.”

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Introduction to Worldview

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  1. Introduction to Worldview

  2. What is a worldview? • “A worldview is a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world.” • James Sire, The Universe Next Door

  3. What is a worldview? • “‎People have presuppositions... By 'presuppositions' we mean the basic way that an individual looks at life- his worldview. The grid through which he sees the world. Presuppositions rest upon that which a person considers to be the truth of what exists. A person's presuppositions provide the basis for their values- and therefore the basis for their decisions.” ― Francis A. Schaeffer

  4. What is religion? • A set of beliefs that answers the ultimate questions: What is ultimate reality? What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of humanity? What is humanity’s problem? What happens after death? • - Irving Hexam, World Religions

  5. How do we get our worldview? • “Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society, the way that a child catches the measles. But people with understanding realize that their presuppositions should be *chosen* after a careful consideration of which worldview is true.” ― Francis A. Schaeffer

  6. 8Basic Worldview Questions • 1. Is there a Higher Power, Supreme Being, someone/thing greater than ourselves? • 2. What is real? • Ontology • 3. Where did the universe come from? Where did humanity come from? • Cosmology • 4. What is a human’s purpose? • Teleology • 5. What is good, or how should we live? • Ethics • 6. What is the fundamental problem humans must face? • Human Condition • 7. What is the answer to the human condition? • Salvation (Soteriology) • 8. Is there life after death? • Eschatology (Last Things)

  7. Ravi Zacharias’ 4 Worldview Categories • 1. Origin • 2. Meaning • 3. Morality • 4. Destiny

  8. The Christian Worldview • The Basic Christian Worldview Categories: • 1) Creation • 2) Fall • 3) Redemption

  9. Creation, Fall, Redemption • God’s Image • Cultural Mandate • Relational • God’s Image, but broken • Reasoning • Emotions • Relationships (God and people) • Salvation in Christ, new creation

  10. Ultimate Reality/Higher Power/First Principle • God. A personal, all-powerful, eternal, holy, self-caused being (Hab. 1:13). He is not a contingent being, but His reason for existence is in Himself. • God is a maximal being; a being which no greater can be conceived (Anselm)

  11. What is Real? • As Christians, we believe there is more to the world than what we can perceive with our five senses (Rom. 8:38, Col. 1:16-17, Luke 12:4-5, Luke 23:42, & Luke 16). • We believe in a real physical world that was originally created good, but is now fallen, and a real spiritual or non-physical world that exists but is not empirical. • The physical world is not intrinsically evil (Gnosticism)

  12. Origins • Creation ex nihilo: The Universe was created by God out of nothing (Genesis 1-2). • Man was created by God, as a being distinct from animals. That is, humans are different from animals not simply in degree, but in kind. • Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27)

  13. What is a Human’s Purpose? • To know God and enjoy Him forever

  14. The Human Condition/Predicament • Humans, originally created good, are fallen and ultimately guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23) before a holy God. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves right before God, and we all deserve death (Matt. 18:8-9 & Rom. 6:23).

  15. The Human Longing: God’s Answers • Moral Depravity – The reality of evil in the world • (Matt. 18:8-9) • Purpose/Meaning – Reason for life • To honor and glorify God (Matt. 22:37) • Eternity – More than just this life • (Eccl. 3:11) • Value – People want to believe they matter – their opinions, ideas, actions, and ultimately their lives

  16. The Solution • God freely chooses to give us a way out of death through Jesus Christ (John 3:16 & Rom. 10:9), who was God incarnate (Matt. 14:33). Salvation is through him alone (John 14:6) and it is free (Titus 3:5). • True meaning is gained through denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following Christ.

  17. Life after Death • We believe that humans continue to exist after a physical death. Immediately after death our souls go to heaven until the final resurrection, judgment, and new creation

  18. Worldview and Apologetics • Many people never thoughtfully consider their worldview and the implications of it • Moreover, many people claim to adhere to a particular worldview, but do not live consistently according to the worldview • Richard Dawkins: “ • The problem is that an atheistic worldview has no way to support objective moral judgments – like the one Dawkins makes here.

  19. Points of Contact • Knowing your worldview and the worldview of someone you are talking to will allow you to find points of contact • You will be able to use this to either establish a common ground for further discussion or to illustrate the differences between their worldview and the Christian worldview

  20. Resources • The Universe Next Door, James Sire • Naming the Elephant, James Sire • Kingdom of Cults, Walter Martin • So What’s the Difference?, Fritz Ridenour • Saving Leonardo, Nancy Pearcey • Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey • Understanding the Times, David Noebel • Summit Ministries • Worldview Academy

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