worldview introduction - overview

39
Introduction Introduction to Worldviews to Worldviews An Overview An Overview The Universe Next Door The Universe Next Door By James Sire By James Sire

Upload: marsha-scott

Post on 17-Jan-2015

2.006 views

Category:

Spiritual


3 download

DESCRIPTION

 

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Introduction Introduction to Worldviewsto Worldviews

An OverviewAn OverviewThe Universe Next DoorThe Universe Next Door

By James SireBy James Sire

Page 2: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

WHAT IS WORLDVIEW?WHAT IS WORLDVIEW?

SET OF SET OF ASSUMPTIONSASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITYNATURE OF REALITY

THESE ASSUMPTIONS CAN EITHER BE THESE ASSUMPTIONS CAN EITHER BE TRUE OR FALSETRUE OR FALSE

THESE ASSUMPTIONS DETERMINE THESE ASSUMPTIONS DETERMINE HOW WE ATTEMPT TO ANSWER LIFE’S HOW WE ATTEMPT TO ANSWER LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONSBIG QUESTIONS

Page 3: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

WHY IS WORLDVIEW WHY IS WORLDVIEW IMPORTANT?IMPORTANT?

OUR WORLDVIEW AFFECTS HOW WE OUR WORLDVIEW AFFECTS HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVESLIVE OUR LIVES

IT DETERMINES OUR IT DETERMINES OUR VALUESVALUES DECISIONSDECISIONS ACTIONSACTIONS

Page 4: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

ACTIONS

VALUES

WORLDVIEW

Page 5: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

WORLDVIEW WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS QUESTIONS

WHAT IS PRIME REALITY- WHAT IS PRIME REALITY-

THE ULTIMATE REALITY? (IS THERE A GOD?)THE ULTIMATE REALITY? (IS THERE A GOD?) WHAT IS THE NATURE OF EXTERNAL REALITY?WHAT IS THE NATURE OF EXTERNAL REALITY?

NATURAL WORLD, THE UNIVERSE, PHYSICAL REALITYNATURAL WORLD, THE UNIVERSE, PHYSICAL REALITY WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING?WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE? HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW?HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW? HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT AND HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT AND

WRONG?WRONG? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HUMAN HISTORY? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HUMAN HISTORY?

(DOES MY LIFE HAVE ANY REAL MEANING AND (DOES MY LIFE HAVE ANY REAL MEANING AND PURPOSE?)PURPOSE?)

Page 6: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

WORLDVIEWS WORLDVIEWS TO BE STUDIEDTO BE STUDIED

HISTORICAL PERSEPECTIVEHISTORICAL PERSEPECTIVE

Page 7: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Basic Theism DefinedBasic Theism Defined The belief in some supreme being (god or The belief in some supreme being (god or

gods)gods)-Idea of a -Idea of a metaphysicalmetaphysical reality- something reality- something

beyond physical realitybeyond physical reality-Some notion of life after death-Some notion of life after death-Idea that there is some authority determining -Idea that there is some authority determining

right and wrong, good and evil, etc.right and wrong, good and evil, etc.- Three major - Three major monotheisticmonotheistic religions religions

Judaism, Christianity, and IslamJudaism, Christianity, and Islam

Page 8: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Christian TheismChristian Theism

Page 9: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Basic Beliefs of Christian Basic Beliefs of Christian TheismTheism

There is a There is a universal, absolute reality universal, absolute reality that can be that can be knownknown

God is the ultimate God is the ultimate (prime) reality(prime) reality The natural world (universe) is God’s creationThe natural world (universe) is God’s creation

– – general revelation general revelation The Biblical narrative is the The Biblical narrative is the universal storyuniversal story of God’s of God’s

truth revealed to humanity (meta-narrative) truth revealed to humanity (meta-narrative) Special revelation Special revelation Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God to humanityJesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity

Page 10: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Life has meaning and purpose Life has meaning and purpose - death is not the end- death is not the end

History is purposeful and moving toward the History is purposeful and moving toward the fulfillment of God’s ultimate planfulfillment of God’s ultimate plan

God is the standard for all moralityGod is the standard for all morality – – universal standard universal standard

Human beings are created in the ‘image” Human beings are created in the ‘image” (likeness) of God – spiritual beings who can (likeness) of God – spiritual beings who can know and relate to Godknow and relate to God

Page 11: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine ChapelThe Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

Page 12: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Deism -18Deism -18thth Century Century Associated with the 18Associated with the 18thth century century EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Age of ReasonAge of Reason God was seen as God was seen as impersonal and removedimpersonal and removed from from

human affairs (NOT relational) human affairs (NOT relational) Focused on the power of the Focused on the power of the rational human mind-rational human mind-

human reasonhuman reason was the was the only source of truthonly source of truth Moved away from any emphasis on metaphysics or Moved away from any emphasis on metaphysics or

the supernatural- the supernatural- NO special revelation NO special revelation

No miracles, virgin birth, Jesus as the incarnation of GodNo miracles, virgin birth, Jesus as the incarnation of God Universe came to be seen as a kind of mechanism Universe came to be seen as a kind of mechanism

governed by rational natural lawsgoverned by rational natural laws ““closed” - determined system closed” - determined system

Page 13: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

The universe was compared to a The universe was compared to a great “clock” and God was the great “clock” and God was the

“clockmaker“clockmaker””

Page 14: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

VoltaireVoltaire1818thth French Philosopher French Philosopher

Page 15: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Page 16: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Mark TwainMark Twain

Page 17: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Naturalism- 19Naturalism- 19thth Century Century Matter is the Matter is the ONLY ONLY reality - NO Godreality - NO God

matter is prime realitymatter is prime reality Rejects any metaphysical or supernatural Rejects any metaphysical or supernatural

realityreality Focus is on Focus is on empirical scienceempirical science and and human human

rationalityrationality Developed as a result of the Developed as a result of the

Scientific Revolution- 17Scientific Revolution- 17thth century century Enlightenment- 18Enlightenment- 18thth century century Industrial Revolution- 18Industrial Revolution- 18thth century century

Page 18: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Science and ReasonScience and Reason

Page 19: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 20: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Charles Darwin and the Charles Darwin and the Theory of EvolutionTheory of Evolution

Page 21: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 22: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

NIHILISMNIHILISMlate 19late 19thth century early 20 century early 20thth

centurycentury Denies the meaning of everythingDenies the meaning of everything Existence has Existence has no meaning or purposeno meaning or purpose Life is nothing but Life is nothing but despair and lonelinessdespair and loneliness

No GodNo God No hopeNo hope No knowledgeNo knowledge No philosophy No philosophy No beautyNo beauty No right and wrong No right and wrong

Friedrich Nietzsche - German philosopherFriedrich Nietzsche - German philosopher-Saw Christianity as producing a “weak, slave” mentality-Saw Christianity as producing a “weak, slave” mentality

Page 23: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 24: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. We have “God is dead. We have

killed him.”killed him.”

Page 25: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

““The Scream” by Edvard MunchThe Scream” by Edvard Munch

Page 26: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 27: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Meaning found in Meaning found in destruction and the “will to destruction and the “will to

power”.power”.

Page 28: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

ATHEISTIC ATHEISTIC EXISTENTIALISMEXISTENTIALISM Mid 20 Mid 20thth

Century Century ((a response to a response to nihilism)nihilism) If life has no meaning, man must If life has no meaning, man must create create

meaning for himself.meaning for himself. People must People must make themselves who they make themselves who they

want to bewant to be Man Man CREATES his ESSENCE OR CREATES his ESSENCE OR

BEING BEING through through ACTIONS (existence) ACTIONS (existence) There is no GodThere is no God There is There is no single objective truth or realityno single objective truth or reality

Page 29: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

“…“…life is like a box of life is like a box of chocolates…”chocolates…”

Page 30: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

New Age MovementNew Age Movement Blend of Eastern mysticism and other religious Blend of Eastern mysticism and other religious

beliefs and practicesbeliefs and practices Emphasizes the Emphasizes the oneness of all thingsoneness of all things Belief in Belief in reincarnationreincarnation Dualist view of good and evil. Dualist view of good and evil. KarmaKarma- we receive back what we give out- we receive back what we give out

Good for goodGood for good Evil for evilEvil for evil

Emphasis on Emphasis on nature nature – – nature embodies the divine- pantheism nature embodies the divine- pantheism

Page 31: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 32: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 33: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 34: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview
Page 35: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

POSTMODERNISMPOSTMODERNISM Rejection of any universal truth Rejection of any universal truth

relativism- all views are validrelativism- all views are valid Rejection of Rejection of any universal storyany universal story

There is not meta-narrative- “BIG” storyThere is not meta-narrative- “BIG” story Reality is Reality is subjective- subjective-

dependent on one’s perceptiondependent on one’s perception Reaction against Reaction against Enlightenment rationalityEnlightenment rationality

and Christian theismand Christian theism The human mind (reason) cannot be trusted The human mind (reason) cannot be trusted Focus on the Focus on the subjectivesubjective over the objective over the objective

Page 36: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

A story that runs A story that runs backwards. What is time? backwards. What is time?

Can we really know Can we really know anything for sure?anything for sure?

Page 37: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

We can create our own reality in death. We can create our own reality in death.

Heaven is what we want it to be.Heaven is what we want it to be.

Page 38: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

Lady Gaga Lady Gaga

Page 39: Worldview Introduction  -  Overview

WORLDVIEWS TIMELINEWORLDVIEWS TIMELINE

CHRISTIANTHEISM

DEISM

18H CENTURY

NATURALISM19TH CENTURY

NIHILISM19TH CENTURY

EXISTENTIALISM20TH CENTURY

NEW AGE1960’S---

POSTMODERNISMMIDDLE AGES RENAISSANCE