1. WORLD VIEWS: WHAT IS TRUE?
WHAT IS A WORLDVIEW?
WORLD VIEWS: WHAT IS TRUE?

2. MEANING OF “WORLDVIEW”
“An all-inclusive world-view or outlook. A somewhat poetic term to indicate either an articulated system of philosophy or a more or less unconscious attitude toward life and the world” (Hunter Mead, Types and Problems of Philosophy).
“A set of presuppositions which we hold about the makeup of our world” (James Sire, Discipleship of the Mind).

3. MEANING OR WORLDVIEW…
“A worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world. Everyone has a worldview, whether he (or she) can explain it or not. It can be likened to a pair of glasses through which one views the world” (Jerry Solomon, Probe)

5. DESCRIPTION OF WORLDVIEW
A Deeper Understanding of Worldview Includes…the sensing, thinking, knowing, acting self that exists in the milieu of a world or a universe…i.e., matter, energy, information.

7. BASIC TENETS AND QUESTIONS
REALITY AND WORLDVIEW
BASIC TENETS AND QUESTIONS

8. REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: BASIC TENETS
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 one’s “bank” or “library” of basic assumptions.

9. REALITY AND WORLDVIEW: MAJOR QUESTIONS
Why is there something rather than nothing (Ontology)?
How do you know that you know (Epistemology)?
How do you explain human nature (Anthropology)?
How do you determine what is right and wrong (Ethics)?
What is the meaning of history?
What happens to a person at death?

10. WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT
The Self and its Worldview in the Context of the World (i.e. our senses of sight, sound, etc.; the ability to feel stimuli from the world around us in a process by which sensed stimuli and existing knowledge are transformed into modified knowledge).

11. 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 fundamental
Aspects of Reality that ground and influence all
one’s perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing.”

12. WORLDVIEW AS ONE’S PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
The Elements of One’s Worldview, the Beliefs about Certain Aspects of Reality, become One’s…

13. 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)

14. ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
EPISTEMOLOGY
ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

15. EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES
What is Knowledge?
What is Knowing?
What is the Basis for Knowledge?
What is the Difference between Knowledge and Faith?
Is Certainty Possible?

16. EPISTEMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your epistemology, what you believe about knowledge, affects what you accept as valid evidence and therefore what you’re willing to believe about particulars.

17. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
METAPHYSICS
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

18. METAPHYSICAL BELIEFS What is the Ultimate Nature of Reality?
What is Truth?
What is the Ultimate Test for Truth?

19. METAPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your metaphysical beliefs (assumptions) will be affected depending upon whether or not you are a naturalist, admit to a spiritual dimension to life or to an ultimate Reality (God), or depending on your approach to truth.

20. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
COSMOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

21. COSMOLOGICAL BELIEFS What is the Origin of the Universe?
What is the Origin of life…Man?

22. COSMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your cosmological beliefs will dictate whether or not you consider the universe is the result of chance, whether or not life has meaning and significance and in turn human thoughts and actions; i.e., “Does my life have meaning and significance in the Big Picture or Grand Scheme of things?”

23. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
TELEOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

24. TELEOLOGICAL BELIEFS Does the Universe have a Purpose?
If the Universe has a Purpose, whose Purpose is it ?
What is the Purpose of the Universe?

25. TELEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your teleological assumptions (beliefs, convictions) will be influenced by whether or not you think you are accountable to Someone-thing higher than yourself; whether or not your consider your life as in conformance to a Plan.

26. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
THEOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

27. THEOLOGICAL BELIEFS Is there a God? What is God’s Nature?
What is the Relationship of God to the Material Universe?
What is the Relationship of God to Man?

28. THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your theological beliefs will affect your sense of purpose and ultimately your reactions to events (behavior), interpretation of events (outlook), or your sense of obligation to or need for a relationship with God (Other).

29. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
ANTHROPOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

30. ANTHROPOLOGICAL BELIEFS
What is Man?
What is Man’s Place in the Universe?
Does Man have a Free Will?
What ought Man to Do?
Is Man Basically Good or Evil?

31. ANTHROPOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your anthropological beliefs will affect whether or not you consider yourself and others as mere mechanistic elements of the universe, or as a stewards of God’s creation; whether or not you are a moral agent with the capacity for right and wrong and needing to look to Someone-thing higher for forgiveness, redemption and moral strength.

32. BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS
AXIOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

33. AXIOLOGICAL BELIEFS What is Value? What Kinds of Value are There?
Is Value Objective or Relative?
Is Value Absolute or Relative?
What is the Source of Value?
What is the Highest Good?
What is Right?

34. AXIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
It is impossible to overstate the importance of your axiology in determining your behavior. It is the foundation for all of your conscious judgments and decisions and therefore the basis for all purpositive thought and action (related to designed activity, plans). Although some acts are reflexive or instinctive (not ascribed to a conscious reference to your beliefs), any action based on even the most cursory reflection has its foundation in your standards of what is good or bad, right or wrong.

35. CONCLUSIONS
In summary, your worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of Reality that ground and influence all your perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing. Your worldview consists of your epistemology, your metaphysics, your cosmology, your teleology, your theology, your anthropology, and your axiology. Each of these subsets of your worldview is highly interrelated with an affects virtually all of the others.

38. 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)

39. THEISM, NATURALISM, PANTHEISM
THE MAJOR WORLD VIEWS
THEISM, NATURALISM, PANTHEISM

40. GOD Man THEISM Monotheism Creation Ex Nihilo Supernaturalism
Revelation
Man’s Nature
Man’s Need
Man’s Destiny

41. Naturalism Culture Modernism Postmodernism Evolution Autonomy
Human Reason
Science
Postmodernism
Truth is culturally based
Reality if in the mind of the beholder
We can’t think independently because we are defined by our culture
There is no “trans-cultural objectivity”
There is no progress.
Nothing is ever proven.

42. PANTHEISM Monism god Pantheism Human Divinity Cosmic Consciousness
Reincarnation
Moral Relativism
god

46. WORLDVIEW TESTS
Consistent?
Coherent?
Comprehensive?
Correspondence?