WORLDVIEW

How Now Shall We Live?

By Chuck Colson

What is a Worldview?

The sum total of our beliefs about the world, the big
picture that directs our daily decisions and actions.

Our major task in life is to discover what is true and live

in step with that truth

Every worldview can be measured by the way it answers

three fundamental questions

The Questions

Where did we come?

Who are we?

Why are we here?

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: BASIC

TENETS
1.
2.
3.

4.

Something exists.
All people have absolutes.
No statement can be both true and false at
the same time (law of non-contradiction)
a statement that claims to be true cannot
affirm and deny to P at the same time
and with the same respect (e.g., blue and
not blue).
All people (though perhaps not claiming to
be religious) exercise faith (or belief
in/about something). This is ones bank
or library of basic assumptions.

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW:

MAJOR QUESTIONS
1.

Why is there something rather than nothing

(Ontology)?

2.

How do you know that you know

(Epistemology)?

3.

How do you explain human nature

(Anthropology)?

4.

How do you determine what is right and

wrong (Ethics)?

5.

What is the meaning of history?

6.

What happens to a person at death?

WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT

Based on the Notion of Self and its Interaction with the World, a Definition
for Worldview Emerges

A worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamen

fundame
Aspects of Reality that ground and influence all
ones perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing.

Epistemology

Beliefs about the nature and sources of

knowledge

Metaphysics

Beliefs about the ultimate nature of Reality

Cosmology

Beliefs about the origins and nature of the

universe

Teleology

Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of

the universe; its inanimate elements and
inhabitants

Theology

Beliefs about the nature and existence of

God

Anthropology

Beliefs about the nature and purpose of

Man in general and, oneself in particular

Axiology

Beliefs about the nature of value, what is

good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)

What is Truth?

Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with

that which is, or has been, or shall be

Truth is Reality

Insanity is losing touch with reality

Believing the lie is real

Truth:
Objective vs. Subjective

Objective

Truths that never

change inspite of
ones feelings.

From a Source
outside of ones
self

Subjective

One constructs
their own
opinion of what
is right or wrong

Subjectivists are
those who deny
objective truths

See handout

Contemporary Philosophies

Secular humanism
Materialism
Atheism
Individualism
Capitalism
Communism/socia
lism
Hedonism
Nihilism
Existentialism

Moral relativism
Religious
indifferentism
Agnosticism
Utilitarianism

Secular Humanism

Man is the ultimate universal authority of all.

+man is great, man is important

- ignores source of original authority of God, ignores

something greater

Materialism

Happiness is based on money & possessions (acquisition

our primary purpose)

+ we need things to survive

- things cant love us back

Atheism

Denial of Gods existence

+ we are responsible for our own actions and choose our

own fate

- no meaning to our existence

Individualism

We should be the primary concern of our own lives/selfsufficient

+ builds self reliance and confidence

- self-centred, ignore others

Capitalism

Focuses on pursuit of wealth/profit

+ promotes individual success

- could deteriorate into greed

Communism/socialism

Aims to have the group meet the needs of all

+ cooperation and communal concern

- suppresses the dignity of the indv., could suppress

initiative and motivation

Hedonism

Constant pursuit of physical pleasure

+ good to have fun

- gluttony, avoid unpleasant responsibilities

Nihilism

Nothing is important/life ends at death, questions the

worth of our actions

+motive more valuable than action

- can lead to apathy and despair

What we do in life, echoes in eternity

-Maximus on Gladiator

Existentialism

We are isolated from others in our experiences.

+ we are unique

- if true, then how do we relate to others?

Moral relativism

We create our own right and wrong

+we decide the right to follow

- no moral standards

** Christians believe we discover right and wrong

through revelation, we do not invent it.

Agnosticism

Doubt the existence of God

+ we must ask questions and find God for ourselves

- unwilling to take leap of faith

Leap is needed because belief in God cant be based on

facts alone, it requires relationship.

Ex. Marriage, Flying

One More Philosophy:

Utilitarianism

judges the usefulness of every and any human

activity
1. Useful is what ever is worthwhile, gives
pleasure/comfort and excludes pain/discomfort.
2. The danger of it all is when the principle of
usefulness is applied to people. Some people can
be termed useless, burdens, or discomforts and
then discarded.
3. If a person is used in a negative sense ex.
Exploited worker, prostitute, one night stand does
this not attack the dignity of the person.
4. Christianity and the natural law are opposed to
the negative use of the person because it subjects
one to being abused, violated, and possibly killed.
Ex. Elderly, handicapped, unborn.

Platos Parable of the Cave

The Natural Law

that rule of right and wrong which our reason can

perceive.

Love is within us from God

Humanism

having an interest in the good of humanity

1. Christian humanism includes God in thought and

action

2. Secular humanism excludes God from thought and

action

**We believe in life before death Cause Canada

mission statement

Case Study: Philosopher

Fred Nietzsche

1. German Philosopher in the 1800s

2. Famous for saying God is dead
3. he said this because of watching the
lives of Christians who he thought only
lived for heaven, neglecting earthly
responsibilities.
4. The Christian God, with his arbitrary
commands and prohibitions, would no
longer stand in the way, so human beings
might stop turning their eyes toward a
supernatural realm and begin to
acknowledge the value of this world.
Related to Practical Atheism belief, but
no actions

Christian Goal in Life

1. Ultimate to prepare for heaven (meeting God and

our true selves)

2. Proximate (immediate) to use this time on earth to

love God, neighbour, and self. All are important, even
to love ourselves.

Ex. The two goals are very connected, remember

Maximus quote.