Major Worldviews TheismAtheism/Agnosticism

Theism  Christianity  Deism  Judaism  Islam

CHRISTIANITY  Prime Reality  God Is Spirit Triune Transcendent Infinite Creator Personality Acts and thinks Character Provides basis for morality

 External Reality  God created an orderly universe  The universe was created as an open, cause and effect system.  Decisions have an effect.

 Who is man?  Man is created in the image of God. Value because God loves us Creativity to imagine new things Personality to make decisions Sense of right despite the Fall

 Knowledge  Morality, right and wrong?  Based upon God’s character  There is something to know  Absolute standard based on God’s character

 Death?  Most personal element  Exercise of free choice  Existence with God  Aloneness apart from God

 Meaning of History?  History is linear.  History is purpose of God in concrete form.  Has meaning because God is in charge.

Deism  Prime Reality  External Reality  Who is man?  Knowledge  God is not currently involved in the world  Closed system, change is not possible  Has no relationship with God  Human reason is sufficient

 Morality, right and wrong?  Death?  Human history?  God does not speak to man, morality is limited to what is revealed in nature  Creation is not fallen, man is good and goes to heaven  Little interest, history is a closed system

Atheism/Agnosticism Prime Reality  God does not exist.  Matter is creator  We can’t be certain if there is a God.

External Reality AtheismAgnosticism Matter is all there is, all there was and all that ever will be.” Carl Sagan

Who is man? Atheism/Agnosticism  Mankind evolved  People are complex machines  Personality is made of interactions of chemical and physical properties

Knowledge?  Reason is sole criteria for truth  Thoughts come from the properties of matter

Morality, right and wrong? Atheism/Agnosticism  Man is judged on achievements, actions, aspirations  Culture determines values  Values relate to human needs and interests  Ethics are autonomous and situational

Death? Atheism/Agnosticism  No afterlife  Laws of matter apply and man becomes disorganized and disappears  Personality and individuality become extinct

Meaning of History? Atheism/Agnosticism  History is linear stream of events without purpose.  Goal of history is perfect humanity  Economic factors determine history  Humans work to satisfy human needs.

ISLAM

What is the prime reality? AllahMaker Lord and Master With us all the time Controls everyone and everything Has always been Is One Has no son

Who is man?  We are Allah’s Servants  We are made from clay  We are made to worship and obey Allah

What is the reason for morality?  Allah gave us everything we have  We thank Allah when we obey him  We must always try to follow Allah’s guidance so that we can go to heaven  Five basic duties of Islam (pillars) Declaration f faith Declaration f faith Daily prayers Daily prayers Contribute to welfare Contribute to welfare Fasting Fasting Pilgrimage Pilgrimage

What happens to man at death?  The day of judgment  Obedience = rewards (heaven)  Disobedience = punishment (hell)

What is the meaning to human history?  Tell the message: there is no god but Allah Prophets – Adam, Abraham, David, Jesus, John Prophets – Adam, Abraham, David, Jesus, John Angels – made from light, record our actions Angels – made from light, record our actions Mohammed – final prophet, wrote the Qur’an for Allah Mohammed – final prophet, wrote the Qur’an for Allah

Worldview Tests 1) A worldview should be rational. It should not ask us to believe contradictory things. It should not ask us to believe contradictory things. Law of Non-contradiction. Law of Non-contradiction. A proposition can not be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense. A proposition can not be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense.

It should give a satisfying, comprehensive explanation of reality It should give a satisfying, comprehensive explanation of reality It should be able to explain why things are the way they are. It should be able to explain why things are the way they are.

3.It should provide us with a satisfactory basis for living. We should not have to borrow elements from another worldview to live in this world.We should not have to borrow elements from another worldview to live in this world.

4.It should be supported by evidence. It should be consistent with what we observe.It should be consistent with what we observe.