• Worldview—Worldview—weltanschauungweltanschauung ( (noun): noun): a a comprehensive conception or comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world, especially apprehension of the world, especially from a specific standpointfrom a specific standpoint

• Every text has its own worldview, its Every text has its own worldview, its philosophy of life, that is presented philosophy of life, that is presented through the text and which may or through the text and which may or may not represent the views of its may not represent the views of its author or creators.author or creators.

• Any time we read we are being asked Any time we read we are being asked to accept the views put forth in the to accept the views put forth in the text; at the same time we should read text; at the same time we should read critically and question the premises of critically and question the premises of the text. the text.

WorldviewWorldview

• What kind of worldview is What kind of worldview is presented in Genesis? presented in Genesis?

• How did the ancient Israelites How did the ancient Israelites see the world, life, God and his see the world, life, God and his relationship with humanity, relationship with humanity, people and their place in the people and their place in the cosmos? cosmos?

• How much of this outlook still How much of this outlook still pervades our culture? pervades our culture?

• In what ways is it dramatically In what ways is it dramatically different?different?

• What kind of inconsistencies, What kind of inconsistencies, ambiguities, and paradoxes are there ambiguities, and paradoxes are there in the Bible?in the Bible?

• How can they be explained or How can they be explained or understood?understood?