Questions on Worldview:
How do you define worldview?
Play the following What’s Your Worldview post:
Sean McDowell’s definition of a worldview:
Sean’s definition:
A belief about reality that answers 3 questions:
1. How did we get here?
2. Why is the world broken?
3. How do we fix it?
More questions on worldview:
What is the value of analyzing and studying worldview?
Why does the worldview matter video:
The video referenced the verse:
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
How does Romans 12:2 inform your worldview?
Have you personally wrestled with any alternative worldview and why?
How would you argue that the Christian worldview is the worldview that best matches reality?
Are their problems with worldviews?
A Ted Talk view from the example of climate change with J. Marshall Shepherd: start at 3:06 to 6:10
Belief Systems and Biases:
1. Confirmation Bias = finding evidence to confirm our existing beliefs.
BOA: this implies not considering negative information.
2. Dunning-Kruger = thinking we know more than we do
3. Cognitive Dissonance = new information contradicting our existing beliefs
These challenges are likely to be levied against your worldview:
Have you thought through your worldview to avoid these pitfalls, and to confirm the truth of your worldview?
How would your defend your worldview against the 3 accusations above?
Worldview actions:
Whiteboard session: how many worldviews can we list
How would you define the Christian worldview, and the other listed worldviews?
Which of the listed worldviews create the greatest opposition to the Christian worldview and why?
https://helpfulprofessor.com/worldview-examples/
https://jamesbishopblog.com/2018/08/08/43-important-philosophical-doctrines-christians-need-to-know/
Defend the Worldview session:
Have each person defend a selected worldview, against the others.
Purpose: Doing your best to defend another worldview, can help you to understand it, and provide insight in how to hold conversations with those that really hold to that worldview.
Worldview examples:
Transitioning son
LDS Sisters conversation about testimony vs. evidence
BOA Worldview Summary statements:
Analyzing a person’s worldview uncovers underlying assumptions that may be a barrier to truth.
Understanding a persons worldview is a way of knowing “where they are coming from” and expressing concern for them as a person. This is turn may be helpful in communicating the gospel to them in ways that are relatable and understandable.
BONUS challenge to worldview:
A Ted Talk take on the history of Worldview: 17:07
Speaker is skeptical of worldview, and the hidden assumptions therein, with the goal of question worldview.
Speakers primary points:
1. The ways in which secular and religious actors have contributed to the invention of worldview, and propelled it’s development
2. The merger of politics and worldview
12:12 the origin of worldview, in Germany due to natural science, aka evolution
evolution gets mobilized against religion to replace Christianity
Christian worldview authors dominate the genre
Kalper, dutch, 1900 explains enemies against Christian worldview to defend against
The Christian worldview leads to different conclusions than the secular worldview
Secular and Christian worldview are mutually dependent on each other.
Hitler stated that it’s wrong to derive worldview from truth, rather it’s ability to unite a nation.
Hitler – Germany was last united by medieval Christianity, then the catholic protestant divided them, so Germany needs to be united by a secular worldview.
1960s America began discussing the end of worldview, examples pragmatism and pluralism.
To conclude, liberals are blind to their own positions and assume that their positions are shared by everybody. Worldview thinking tends to end discussion. Envoking worldview ends dialog.
BOA question: how do you address the speakers idea that worldview thinking ends dialog?