A Christian Philosophy of Worldview

7/30/2019 A Christian Philosophy of Worldview

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AChristianPhilosophyofWorldviewAPhilosophicalDiscussionoftheBasicsof

WorldviewanditsRelationtoChristianVirtue

By:JonathanWoodward


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TableofContents

TableofContents .....................................................................................2

Abstract....................................................................................................3

ADefinition ..............................................................................................4

ThePhilosophicalTask......................................... ............................................. .............................. 4

TheMindandBelief .................................................................................5

PossibleBarrierstoTruth.......................................... ............................................. ....................... 6

TheStartingPointintheFormulationProcess .......................................... ....................... 6

AnExampleofaFalseWorldview........................ ........................................... ........................ 7

TheAuthorsWorldview...........................................................................9

TheAuthorsAimasaChristianIntellectual........................................................................10

PersonalBarrierstoIntellectualVirtue,andOvercomingThem................................10

ChristastheExample .............................................................................11

Conclusion ..............................................................................................12

Bibliography ...........................................................................................13


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Abstract

THISPAPERwilldiscussthebasicsofworldview,howthemindcorrespondswith

worldview (creation & development), and the authors aim for the future of his

Christianthinking.


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ADefinition

Aworldviewisawayinwhichoneviewstheworld.JamesW.Siredefinesa

worldviewinthisway:

acommitment,afundamentalorientationoftheheart,thatcanbeexpressed

asa storyor ina set ofpresuppositions (assumptionswhichmay betrue,

partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or

subconsciously,consistentlyorinconsistently)aboutthebasicconstitutionof

reality, and that provides the foundation onwhichwe live and move and

haveourbeing.(Sire,Universe,17)

Everyoneholds tosome kindofworldview,butnoteveryoneknowswhat

his or her ownworldview actually is, or what it implies. It is also true that not

everyone embraces the worldview in which they hold. To be sure, though,

everyonesworldview contributes in someway to how decisions are made, how

valuesandbeliefsareeitheracceptedorrejected,andhowpracticallifeiscarried

out. In the words previously quoted, aworldview satisfies the necessary mental

requirementsforonetoliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.

ThePhilosophicalTask

One,however,mayaskthequestion,Whatisthepurposeofaworldview?

The philosophical task for understanding aworldview isnot simply todefine its

purpose;ratheritisto identifywhatworldviewoneholdsto,orwhatworldviews

actually exist that make sense out of reality. It serves, at its deepest root, a

commitment to and understanding of the really real (Sire, Universe, 11).


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Committing ones self tounderstanding realitymust include a discovery of ones

ownworldview and its implicationsand logical conclusions. This involvesasking

questions for ones self to discover and evaluate beliefs that are either true or

untrue.Thehumanmind,therefore,mustengagewithitselfinordertolearnitsown

mentalframework,ornoeticstructure.

TheMindandBelief

Themind,or thethinkingsubstance,however,isaverycomplicatedthing

todescribe.Itisapeculiarthing;orshoulditevenbecalledathing?Whereisit

located?Howexactlydoesitinteractwiththebody?Isitvisible?Isitcontingenton

the brain, or is the brain contingent on itor both? Its role, it is believed, is to

processtheimmaterial(ideas,beliefs,emotions,etc.)inordertomakesenseoutof

reality and howwe respond and correspond to and with that reality. It is also

believedtobethesubstancethatisessentialtoprocessandmakesenseoutofthe

physicalreality.Inotherwords,themindisthatwhichupholdsthementalactivities

(Miller,103).

Thiscombinationofhowthemindworks,andhowitrespondstoideasand

belief is called the noetic structure. Dr. William Lane Craig defines the noetic

structureasapersonssystemofbeliefs,thatifrationalwillexhibitnoflawsinthe

beliefsystem,ornoeticstructure(Craig).Thisstructureisdifferentforeveryone,

sinceeveryonesbeliefsystem(s)areatleastslightlydifferent,butsimilarintheway

thateachpersonhasanoeticstructure.Bywayofillustration,thenoeticstructureis

aninternalhumantheaterbywhichwefilterandunderstandtheworld(Burgess).


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Oftentimes,evenunknowingly,whatguidesapersoninhisorher investigationof

personalworldview (whether by inhibiting or by embracing) are what is called

presuppositions.

PossibleBarrierstoTruth

Everyone, to some degree, arrives at the table of thought with

presuppositions.Thesearethefactorsthatinfluenceapersoninmakingchoicesor

formingbeliefs,whetherthatisdoneconsciouslyorsubconsciously.Itisformingan

opinion or belief without prior knowledge of its object. To be specific, it is the

assumption of the existence or truth of something, as a preliminary to action,

argument, etc. (OED). Presuppositions often times can cloud ones ability to

perceive truth, can influence the way in which one interprets truth, and can

ultimatelyaidinthetotalrejectionoftruth.Itisgood,therefore,todiscoverwhat

presuppositionsonehas,andifthosepresuppositionsinfluencetheacceptanceor

rejection of truth. But truthinandof itself isnot necessarily requiredforone to

possessaworldview;norisitneededtoconstituteoneforhavingafoundationof

beliefs. Everyone has a belief system, which is built upon a set of foundational

beliefs.Thesebeliefsarealsoknownasbasicbeliefs.Allbeliefsystems,whethertrue

orfalse,havefoundationalbeliefs.

TheStartingPointintheFormulationProcess

Basically,thisiswhatisknownasfoundationalism.Itisthebasicbelief,or

setofbasicbeliefs,thatonefiltersallotherbeliefsthroughinordertomakesense

outoftheirworld.Itisthebasicorimmediatebeliefsoneholdsthatsupportall


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other nonbasic or mediate beliefs (Wood, 78).The beliefs that are properly

basicareonesthatareevidenttothesenses,andthatarenotsubjecttoproofor

demonstration;theyareinsteadthestartingpointsofallourreasoning(Wood,86).

The difference between a basic and nonbasic belief is that a basic belief

cannot bedisproved,but anonbasicbelief can. For instance: belief in causeand

effectisbasic.Itisabeliefthatisinherentandbasicforlivingandunderstandingthe

world. Belief indifferent levels ofcauseandeffect are nonbasic. Inotherwords,

beliefinthecauseandeffectrelationshipinthemindbodyphenomenonandhowit

works,orifthereissuchathing,isnonbasic.Itisunnecessarytohavesuchabelief

inordertofunctionasahumanbeing.Itisnecessary,however,toknowthatifone

walksoffofaonehundredandfiftyfootcliff,deathisimminent.Someworldviews

basic beliefs are difficult to determine, as if that specific worldview had no

foundationwhereallotherbeliefsarepositioned.

AnExampleofaFalseWorldview

Oneofthesemorechallengingworldviewstodefineispostmodernism.One

ofthereasonspostmodernismissodifficulttodefineisbecauseithasnoprecise

basicbeliefs; there is noprescriptive, basic belief,wherepostmodernismbegins.

Thereisnofundamentalbeliefthatundergirdsthisworldview,exceptpossiblyfor

thebeliefthattruthisrelative.Becausethisstillleavestheinquirer,aswellasthe

practitioner, without boundaries or defining edges that reveal some form of the

worldview to articulate unambiguously or to lack explanatory power. It remains

epistemologicallyunjustified.


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Essentially, postmodernism is eastern pantheistic in nature, yet with a

westernaccent.WhatImeanbywesternaccentcanprobablybebestunderstood

by relating it to existentialism. In this worldview, anything that is considered

valuabletoapersonreligion,science,watchingfootball,playingcornhole,etc.is

only that which one sees as a benefit to ones self. Postmodernism adopts the

easternpantheistic ideologyofkarma,yetremainsvery individualistic, similar to

theexistentialmindset.Itborrowstheexistentialwhatsinitformeapproachand

combines it with the pantheistic truth is relative mindset, rejects its former

modernisticframework,andattemptstobecalledaworldview.

The problem is that this worldview is without a philosophical way of

actuallydefiningitselfasabeliefsystem.Thereasonforthisisbecause,basically,it

is more pragmatic than it is philosophical. It borrows elements of different

worldviews(e.g.theirphilosophy),yetremainsunformedasaworldviewitself.For

instance,postmodernismasaworldviewrejectsallstandardsofobjectivetruth,and

insteadembracespersonaltruthbasedontheslidingscaleofmoralrelativism.The

sourceandcriterionofmoraljudgmentsistheindividual(Miller,35657).Butthisis

itselfpresentedasanabsolutestatementoftruth.Itisselfrefuting,andtherefore

lacksrealmeaning.Theonlythingstatementslikethisofferaresomeformofpraxis,

buttheyfallapartatthephilosophicalroot,whichiswheretheworldviewisformed.

Thepostmodernistis thereforechallengedwiththetaskofdefininghisworldview

withoutmerelyspeakingintermsofpraxis.


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TheAuthorsWorldview

TheworldviewIadoptistheChristianworldview.Eventhisisaworldview

sometimes difficult to define, as there are many different forms of religious

expressionunderthebannerofChristianity.Therefore,Ithinkittobeabitmore

fittingtodescribemyworldviewasabiblicalworldview.WhatImeanbythisis

thatmyattempttounderstandtheworldandrealityasawholeisfilteredthrough

theconceptsandprinciplesoftheChristianScriptures,whichIbelievetobetruths

communicated by God through certain people for all generations. This does not

meanthatphilosophyhasnoplaceintheChristianworldview.Instead,asWilliam

Haskerpointsout,myChristianworldviewmakesuseofphilosophytodevelopand

interpretChristianrevelation(24).

Thisworldviewassertsthattruthandrealityisknowable,andthroughthe

revelationofGodandHiscommunicationthroughman,weareabletoknowsuch

things. Therefore, the task of the Christian is ultimately to know God more. By

knowingGodmore,truthandrealityisbetterunderstoodsinceGodHimselfisthe

quintessence of truth and reality. Not all Christians, however, embrace such

intellectual rigor as a worthy endeavor. It is my understanding, though, that

Christiansactuallyaretoengageinsuchintellectualvirtues.Notallarecalledtothe

vocation ofChristianphilosophy, butallChristians are called toworshipGodwith

theirminds(Mark12:3830,esp.v.30)!


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TheAuthorsAimasaChristianIntellectual

AChristianintellectualiseverythinganintellectualproperisbut[sic]tothe

gloryofGod(Sire,Habits,88).Mypursuitofknowingthereallyrealmustdrive

metomyknees before Christ, before the Creator of the Universe, inawe and in

worship. For if my pursuits in life, no matter hownoble they may seem, do not

ultimatelybringmetothefeetofChrist,Ihavemissedvirtuealltogether.Onlywhen

beforethefeetofChristIworshipdoIlearnthatmySaviornotonlypossessesthe

knowledgeofhowtosaveHispeople,Heactuallysavesthem.Jesusistheincarnation

of both intellectual virtue and equal moral virtue. Therefore, this task of being

intellectuallyvirtuousisaworthyendeavorabiblicalendeavor.Mychallengefrom

studying Christian philosophy, then, is to be truly virtuous intellectually. Here is

what Imean:my intellectual activities, in order to be for the gloryof God, must

manifestthemselvesinsomemoralactivity.ThisiswhyIpreferthetermbiblical

worldview,becausewhentheBiblecallstheChristiantomentalrenewal,italsohas

inmindspiritualrenewalandthepracticalmanifestationofthatmentalandspiritual

change(James1:22).

PersonalBarrierstoIntellectualVirtue,andOvercomingThem

There are times when I give in to the desire for laziness, or some other

activitythatdoesnotpairmyintellectualambitions.Thesemomentsofweakness

barricademypathofnotonlysucceedinginintellectualvirtue,butalsoinhibitsme

fromofferingmyselfasalivingsacrificethemetapurposeofmyChristiancalling

(Rom. 12:1). This only causes amuch tougher obstacle course formyself in the

processoflifeasanintellectualChristiannowIhavehurdlestojumpandwallsto


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scale!Iamchallengedtherefore,topairmyintellectualpursuitwithadequatemoral

pursuit.Whatthislookslikeissearchingforopportunitiestopreach,forpeopleto

disciple, making myhomework a top priority, setting time aside for the sake of

thought alone and meditation on the Bible, engaging in different approaches to

evangelism,findingwaystoservemyfamilyandothers.Simplyput,itislivingtothe

gloryofGodevenwhennooneislooking.Thisiscertainlyamightytasktobehold,

buttomakeitcustomtomyChristianspiritualgrowthisessentiallycreatinghabits

ofthemind.Becausethebodyfollowsthemind,theresultofarenewedmindisa

renewedpraxis.

ChristastheExample

Christ Himself not only preached the Good News, but was the very

embodimentofthatproclamation.HenotonlycondemnedthePhariseesfortheir

evilwork,butwaswillingtodieforthetruthHespoke.Cheaptalkfoundnoplacein

themouth, orheart, of Jesus. Becausethis is true,I (we) can trust thatmy(our)

intellectualpursuitsbeingmademanifestinpracticalmoralityisnottheresultof

personaleffortalone,andthereforeworthlessinviewofeternity.Instead,theyhave

valuebecausetheobjectofourhopeintheseworksisjoyinChristandthegloryof

Godonearthandinourlives.Behavioralonemeritsnovalueineternity.Thehuman

mind,then,mustbetransformedand conformed tothemindofGodso thatdeep

motivesmaybeexaminedandhumblylaidbeforetheLord.


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Conclusion

AllofthiscombinediswhatIhopetobethefutureofmyChristianthinking,

andcanbesummedupintoonesingularthought:tobeincontinualrenewingofthe

mind(Rom.12:12).


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Bibliography

Burgess,Aaron."ClassNotes."ChristianWorldview.Cincinnati:CincinnatiChristian

University,9/2710/252010.

Craig,WilliamLane.WhatisReasonableFaith?6November2010

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Hasker,WIlliam.Metaphysiscs:ConstructingaWorldview.DownersGrove:

InterVarsityPres,1983.

Miller,Ed.L.QuestionsthatMatter:AnInvitationtoPhilosophy.NewYork:McGraw

HillBookCompany,1984.

"Presupposition."OxfordEnglishDictionary.DraftRevision,Dec.2009.OEDOnline.

http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.ohiolink.edu:9099/cgi/entry/50188108?si

ngle=1&query_type=word&queryword=presupposition&first=1&max_to_sho

w=10.

Sire,JamesW.HabitsoftheMind:IntellectualLifeasaChristianCalling.Downers

Grove:InterVarsityPress,2000.

.TheUniverseNextDoor:ABasicWorldviewCatalog.FourthEdition.Downers

Grove:InterVarsityPress,2004.

"TheBible."EnglishStandardVersion(ESV).CrosswayBibles,2001.

Wood,W.Jay.Epistemology:BecomingIntellectuallyVirtuous.DownersGrove:

InterVarsityPress,1998.

.Epistemology:BecomingIntellectuallyVirtuous.DownersGrove:InterVarsity

Press,1998.

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A Christian Philosophy of Worldview