Developing a WorldviewOklahoma Wesleyan University

APOL 6543 Issues In Apologetics

What is a Worldview?

A Worldview is a collection of beliefs (ideas, images, attitudes, values) that a group of

people hold about things –universe, humankind, God, future. A worldview may be adopted, developed, formed, as a result

of an unconscious assimilation or conditioning process. It is the general perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. Quoted from

“Philosophy” by Peter Angels The Harper Collins Dictionary

What is a Worldview-- cont’d.•“The central set of concepts and presuppositions that provide people with their basic assumptions about reality.”

Darrell Whiteman

•A Worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold consciously or unconsciously, consistently or inconsistently about the basic make-up of our world Dr. James Sire

Understanding the Postmodern Mindset

Modern

•Born during the Enlightenment•Rationalism•Scientific Revolution•Truth was scientific

Postmodern

•Born as a result of Modernism•Experiential •Moral Revolution•Truth is experiential

Worldviews Deal With Six Different Questions

• What is ultimate reality?

• What is a human being?

• What happens to a person at death?

• How do we know anything at all?

• How do we know what is right and wrong?

• What is the meaning of history?

A Worldview…. Is Like A Car•It helps us get around the Universe

•You don’t have to know everything about it for it to be useful

•You can inherit it from the people around you

•If you are not aware of yours, you can be coerced very easily

•Knowing more about yours can help you know the merits of your particular worldview

•A bad one will get you no where and you will feel frustrated

Characteristic of a Good Worldview• Must be internally consistent (Doesn’t contradict

itself)

• Is able to comprehend the data of reality (It explains the real world [reasonibly well] without becoming inconsistent.)

• Should explain what it claims to be.

• Should be subjectively satisfying.

• (It must provide satisfaction in the worldview holder.)