Worldview Considering the Options With a Focus on Postmodernism Wisconsin Pathfinder Leaders October 2012 John Matthews, PhD

Worldview: 6.7 Billion Options Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Theism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Pantheism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Theism What is Theism?... Does it Make Sense, & Is It Consistent & Defensible?

Worldview: Christian Theism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Christian Theism: Who is God? The Christian God: Who is he/what is he like? Holy, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immanent, sovereign, good, etc., etc.... Holy, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immanent, sovereign, good, etc., etc.... Job Job How much do we know about God? How much do we know about God?

Christian Theism: Challenges Can a God who transcends nature be proven? Can a God who transcends nature be proven? If God is omnipotent, is he responsible for both good and bad? Why is there suffering ? [Potentia absoluta & ordinata] If God is omnipotent, is he responsible for both good and bad? Why is there suffering ? [Potentia absoluta & ordinata] If God is omniscient ( knows past/present/future ), is the universe determined & freedom an illusion? If God is omniscient ( knows past/present/future ), is the universe determined & freedom an illusion?

Christian Theism: Strengths Theism allows for the possibility of rational thought, in an ordered but open universe Theism allows for the possibility of rational thought, in an ordered but open universe Theism gives meaning to life because it gives purpose to the universe (teleology) Theism gives meaning to life because it gives purpose to the universe (teleology) Consider: “God is dead!” Friedrich Nietzsche, Theism allows for a coherent system of ethics. C. S. Lewis Theism allows for a coherent system of ethics. C. S. Lewis

Theism: Why I am a Christian Christianity offers hope for the human dilemma

Worldview: Pantheism and New Age Eastern Thought and Its Influence in the West

Worldview: Eastern Monistic Pantheism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Pantheism: Who Are Eastern Pantheists? A Simplistic Response to the Question Above: Hindus Hindus Buddhists Buddhists Taoists Taoists Etc., [as there is a myriad of western ideologies, so is there a myriad of Eastern philosophies and religions] Etc., [as there is a myriad of western ideologies, so is there a myriad of Eastern philosophies and religions]

Pantheism: Basic Questions In Eastern Monistic Pantheism: What is real cosmically? What is real cosmically? What is real in terms of human existence? What is real in terms of human existence? [Atman is Brahman]

Pantheism: Challenges If one accepts Eastern Monistic Pantheism, how does one explain: the need to develop positive karma in an amoral universe? the need to develop positive karma in an amoral universe? the fact that, as the essence of an amoral monistic universe, and therefore “god,” an individual is capable of doing bad things the fact that, as the essence of an amoral monistic universe, and therefore “god,” an individual is capable of doing bad things

Pantheism: Strengths Eastern Monistic Pantheism allows humans to control their own destinies allows humans to control their own destinies offers hope to all, in that all paths lead to the “divine,” i.e., to achievement of Nirvana offers hope to all, in that all paths lead to the “divine,” i.e., to achievement of Nirvana encourages peace, harmony, and positive relationship encourages peace, harmony, and positive relationship encourages a positive ecology encourages a positive ecology

Worldview: New Age 4 DIMENSIONs: Length, breadth, height, time (the “natural” world as normally experienced) Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia 5 th DIMENSION: Spiritual (but in the box, not supernatural)

Worldview: New Age Three versions of New Age “reality”: Occult Occult Psychedelic Psychedelic Conceptual Relativistic Conceptual Relativistic

New Age: Challenges If one accepts New Age, how does one explain: The conflict that arises in the natural or spiritual realms if I am the god of my world & you are the god of yours The conflict that arises in the natural or spiritual realms if I am the god of my world & you are the god of yours moral behavior in a system made of individual kingdoms moral behavior in a system made of individual kingdoms

New Age: Strengths New Age allows humans to direct their destinies by tapping the power of the “5 th Dimension” allows humans to direct their destinies by tapping the power of the “5 th Dimension” offers hope to all, in that the individual soul is indestructable offers hope to all, in that the individual soul is indestructable builds on relational aspects of eastern philosophy without losing individuality builds on relational aspects of eastern philosophy without losing individuality encourages a positive ecology encourages a positive ecology

New Age: Influences How has New Age Changed the World? Anthropology & Ecology Anthropology & Ecology Natural Science (the prophetic nature & influence of Sci-Fi) Natural Science (the prophetic nature & influence of Sci-Fi) Health (alternative medicine) Health (alternative medicine) Religion (spirituality, as opposed to religion) Religion (spirituality, as opposed to religion) Entertainment Entertainment

Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism What is Philosophical Naturalism?... And Why Should I Care? The Secular Option

Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Philosophical Nihilism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Philosophical Nihilism Edvard Munch, The Scream”

Worldview: Atheistic Existentialism Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia  

Worldview: Humanism – Transcending beyond the box Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Humanism – Transcending within the box Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Humanism – Tne Quantum leap Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Worldview: Postmodernism – Is their a box ? Photo by Bobi Kuzmanoski Comet 17/P Holmes; Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Philosophical Naturalism: Challenges If one accepts philosophical naturalism, how does one explain: human freedom in a closed system? human freedom in a closed system? moral behavior in an amoral cosmos? [What can be done with the problem of guilt?] moral behavior in an amoral cosmos? [What can be done with the problem of guilt?] Evolutionary natural selection (survival of the fittest) in a world that argues for the rights of the oppressed & marginalized? Evolutionary natural selection (survival of the fittest) in a world that argues for the rights of the oppressed & marginalized? the postmodern dilemma (everything is a lie) the postmodern dilemma (everything is a lie)

Philosophical Naturalism: Strengths Philosophical naturalism in its humanistic form allows humans to be responsible for their own destiny (good or bad) allows humans to be responsible for their own destiny (good or bad) Gives the appearance of being logical, rational, consistent, coherent, & scientific (with one “little” faith-based presuppositional exception) Gives the appearance of being logical, rational, consistent, coherent, & scientific (with one “little” faith-based presuppositional exception)

NewAge Idealism Xtianity Realism Postmod Xt Exist Nihilism SecHum AthExist Hindu Buddha Etc Deism Judaism Islam Worldview: Which Which Option? Option?

Worldview: Which Option? Theism? Believed but not proven – it requires faith because its concept of reality cannot be empirically verified Theism? Believed but not proven – it requires faith because its concept of reality cannot be empirically verified Philosophical Naturalism? Apparently logical but – it requires faith because of an epistemological conundrum Philosophical Naturalism? Apparently logical but – it requires faith because of an epistemological conundrum Pantheism? Offers hope to all but – it requires faith in an inconsistent axiology (ethical framework) Pantheism? Offers hope to all but – it requires faith in an inconsistent axiology (ethical framework)

Worldview: Engagement Strategy 1. Know your story, both as an ideology & a lived experience 2. Know the strengths & challenges of the story of those whom you wish to engage, so you may dialogue about their story, exploring its challenges 3. “Capture” your audience, retelling the story, to show how the challenges of their story are met by the strengths of your story Curtis Chang, Engaging Unbelief