5 World Views
Here are the 5 world views all people embrace!
Which one are you holding onto? Or, are you doing a pick and mix?
This simplified chart will help you assess how you establish truth and personal values!
Why are world views important?
Plain and simply, whatever you "believe" determines the decisions you make, the actions you take and ultimately, your eternal destiny!
Remember:
This world isn't just material, physical, (materialism) it is more importantly spiritual, (metaphysical) and must be understood from "both" angles not just one "or" the other!
Just as there is light, there is dark, the visible so the invisible, good so there is also evil and finally most importantly, God so there is a Devil (Satan.) The dualistic nature of things is "understood" by common sense. There are always 2 sides to everything.
Failure by anyone to accept and live by this fundamental understanding of the world will only lead to a "distortion" of reality and ultimately to "deception" and death!
Plain and simply, whatever you "believe" determines the decisions you make, the actions you take and ultimately, your eternal destiny!
Remember:
This world isn't just material, physical, (materialism) it is more importantly spiritual, (metaphysical) and must be understood from "both" angles not just one "or" the other!
Just as there is light, there is dark, the visible so the invisible, good so there is also evil and finally most importantly, God so there is a Devil (Satan.) The dualistic nature of things is "understood" by common sense. There are always 2 sides to everything.
Failure by anyone to accept and live by this fundamental understanding of the world will only lead to a "distortion" of reality and ultimately to "deception" and death!
1) Naturalism:
(e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism, Materialism)
Reality
The material universe is all that exists. Reality is "one-dimensional." There is no such thing as a soul or a spirit. Everything can be explained on the basis of natural law.
Man
Man is the chance product of a biological process of evolution. Man is entirely material. The human species will one day pass out of existence.
Truth
Truth is usually understood as scientific proof, ie 'theoretical proof' or Scientism. Only that which can be assumed from 'a priori' ideas are accepted as real or true.
Values
No objective values or morals exist. Morals are individual preferences or socially useful behaviours. Even social morals are subject to evolution and change.
(e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism, Materialism)
Reality
The material universe is all that exists. Reality is "one-dimensional." There is no such thing as a soul or a spirit. Everything can be explained on the basis of natural law.
Man
Man is the chance product of a biological process of evolution. Man is entirely material. The human species will one day pass out of existence.
Truth
Truth is usually understood as scientific proof, ie 'theoretical proof' or Scientism. Only that which can be assumed from 'a priori' ideas are accepted as real or true.
Values
No objective values or morals exist. Morals are individual preferences or socially useful behaviours. Even social morals are subject to evolution and change.
2) Pantheism:
(e.g. Hinduism; Taoism; Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness)
Reality
Only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion, maya. Spiritual reality, Brahman, is eternal, impersonal, and unknowable. It is possible to say that everything is a part of God, or that God is in everything and everyone. God is not a personable "being" but a mindless "force."
Man
Man is one with ultimate reality. Thus man is spiritual, eternal, and impersonal. Man’s belief that he is an individual is illusion.
Truth
Truth is an experience of unity with "the oneness" of the universe. Truth is beyond all rational description. Rational thought as it is understood in the West cannot show us reality.
Values
Because ultimate reality is impersonal, many pantheistic thinkers believe that there is no real distinction between 'good' and 'evil.' Instead, "unenlightened" behaviour is that which fails to understand essential unity.
(e.g. Hinduism; Taoism; Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness)
Reality
Only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion, maya. Spiritual reality, Brahman, is eternal, impersonal, and unknowable. It is possible to say that everything is a part of God, or that God is in everything and everyone. God is not a personable "being" but a mindless "force."
Man
Man is one with ultimate reality. Thus man is spiritual, eternal, and impersonal. Man’s belief that he is an individual is illusion.
Truth
Truth is an experience of unity with "the oneness" of the universe. Truth is beyond all rational description. Rational thought as it is understood in the West cannot show us reality.
Values
Because ultimate reality is impersonal, many pantheistic thinkers believe that there is no real distinction between 'good' and 'evil.' Instead, "unenlightened" behaviour is that which fails to understand essential unity.
3) (Mono) Theism:
(e.g. Christianity; Islam; Judaism)
Reality
An infinite, personal God exists. He created a finite, material world. God exists outside this material world yet sovereignly intervenes in the affairs of men. Reality is both material and spiritual. The universe as we know it had a beginning and will have an end.
Man
Humankind is the unique creation of God. People were created "in the image of God," which means that we are personal, biological, spiritual and eternal creatures with free will.
Truth
Truth about God is known through his Word (The Bible) and revelation of its truths. Truth about the material world is gained via the five senses in conjunction with rational thought and revelation from God.
Values
Moral values are the objective expression of an absolute moral being.
(e.g. Christianity; Islam; Judaism)
Reality
An infinite, personal God exists. He created a finite, material world. God exists outside this material world yet sovereignly intervenes in the affairs of men. Reality is both material and spiritual. The universe as we know it had a beginning and will have an end.
Man
Humankind is the unique creation of God. People were created "in the image of God," which means that we are personal, biological, spiritual and eternal creatures with free will.
Truth
Truth about God is known through his Word (The Bible) and revelation of its truths. Truth about the material world is gained via the five senses in conjunction with rational thought and revelation from God.
Values
Moral values are the objective expression of an absolute moral being.
4) Spiritism and Polytheism:
Reality
The world is populated by spirit beings (Demons) who govern what goes on. Gods and demons are the real reason behind "natural" events. Material things are real, but they have spirits associated with them (Animism) and, therefore, can be interpreted spiritually.
Man
Man is a creation of the gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Often, tribes or races have a special relationship with some gods who protect them and can punish them.
Truth
Truth about the natural world is discovered through the shaman figure who has visions telling him what the gods and demons are doing and giving instructions to the 'initiates' via occult rituals and acts of prognostication!
Values
Moral values take the form of taboos, which are things that irritate or anger various spirits. These taboos are different from the idea of 'good and evil' because it is just as important to avoid irritating both evil spirits and good ones.
Reality
The world is populated by spirit beings (Demons) who govern what goes on. Gods and demons are the real reason behind "natural" events. Material things are real, but they have spirits associated with them (Animism) and, therefore, can be interpreted spiritually.
Man
Man is a creation of the gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Often, tribes or races have a special relationship with some gods who protect them and can punish them.
Truth
Truth about the natural world is discovered through the shaman figure who has visions telling him what the gods and demons are doing and giving instructions to the 'initiates' via occult rituals and acts of prognostication!
Values
Moral values take the form of taboos, which are things that irritate or anger various spirits. These taboos are different from the idea of 'good and evil' because it is just as important to avoid irritating both evil spirits and good ones.
5) Postmodernism:
Reality
Reality must be interpreted through our language and cultural "paradigm." Therefore, reality is "socially constructed." There are no "absolutes" and God does not exist as evolution is the "driver" or basis for this worldview.
Man
Humans are nodes in a cultural reality – they are a product of their social setting. The idea that people are autonomous and free is a myth.
Truth
Truths are mental constructs meaningful to individuals within a particular cultural paradigm. They do not apply to other paradigms. Truth is relative to one’s culture.
Values
Values are part of this social paradigm as well. Tolerance, freedom of expression, inclusion, and refusal to claim to have the answers are the "only" universal values.
Reality
Reality must be interpreted through our language and cultural "paradigm." Therefore, reality is "socially constructed." There are no "absolutes" and God does not exist as evolution is the "driver" or basis for this worldview.
Man
Humans are nodes in a cultural reality – they are a product of their social setting. The idea that people are autonomous and free is a myth.
Truth
Truths are mental constructs meaningful to individuals within a particular cultural paradigm. They do not apply to other paradigms. Truth is relative to one’s culture.
Values
Values are part of this social paradigm as well. Tolerance, freedom of expression, inclusion, and refusal to claim to have the answers are the "only" universal values.
The information above was borrowed from Xenos Christian Fellowship website!
http://www.xenos.org/essays/five-worldviews
http://www.xenos.org/essays/five-worldviews