Worldview Assignment

APOL104 - B08

September 5, 2012

Worldview Assignment

Part I: What is a world view?

A worldview is easily described as the person's perception of the world around them and is the framework for decision making. You can think of a worldview like a pair of glasses. When you look out of those glasses what do you see? Dr. Weider in his presentation gave an example; if your glasses are red then everything around you will be red. (Weider & Gotierrez, 2011) This is the same for worldview. Everyone has a worldview if they know it or not. It's how we organize our thinking about life, death, art, science, faith, learning, work, money, values, and morals. (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p.50) Worldview is our underlying philosophy of life.

Part II: Articulate the biblical/Christian Worldview with Five Questions

The Biblical Worldview begins with God and can be known through His creation of and revelation to humankind.(Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p.69) This revelation of God can be described as general revelation or special revelation. General Revelation is known by humans by two methods. The two methods are natural and the creation of men and women in His image. (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p.70) General revelation is limited in its scope because of the fall; now humans are separated from God and were limited from their natural ability to know and have that relationship with God. Special revelation is when God makes known vital truths which cannot be known through general revelation. (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p. 72) Special revelation is where God reveals himself to us. An example of this is that He spoke to men in dreams and visions (Gen 20, 28). The most significant method of God's special revelation to humanity is in the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1:14). There are five questions that one must be able to answer to identify their worldview.

You must be able to answer the question of Origin. This is the question of how "Life began?" or "How mankind came into existence?" (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, pg.55) A person with a Biblical Worldview believes that we got here by the creator God and that he created everything we see, including humankind. The bible starts off with ..."God created the heavens and the earth". (Gen 1:1) David, the Psalmist, declares that God is creator in Psalms 139:13-16. The Biblical Worldview believes that God is the Creator and we would not be here without Him.

Once you answer the question of Origin then it can lead to the question of Identity. Identity answers the questions "What does it mean to be human?" and "Are humans more important than animals?" (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p57) Christians believe that God created mankind above the animals and man "a little above the angels" (Ps 8:5). The people with the Biblical Worldview believe that the earth and animals should not be worshiped but that we, humans, are responsible to take care of His creation. In Genesis 2:15; we were told be to rule over the animals and be their care takers. To answer the question of identity it means to be responsible for His Creation and to rule over the animals. I guess you can say people with the Biblical/Christian Worldview think that humans are more important than animals.

Meaning is the third question that must be answered. It can be answered by asking "Why does mankind exist?" or "Why do I exist?" (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p.59) Meaning can also answer the question of our purpose here on this earth. Weider and Gutierrez says that this question has significant consequences and it has enormous implications for our lives and how we perceive ourselves and others.(p.59) The people with Biblical Worldview believes that their purpose is to know God and have that intimate relationship with Him. In John 17:3 it talks about how we may know God and have that relationship with him. Genesis 1:26-28 talks about how God has appointed us to be Stewards of His creation. This is allowing us to rule over the fish of the