Why Worldview Study Matters!
In the past few years, I have had the privilege of co-authoring a textbook on Christian worldview with Michael Clark and David Naugle. As I shared recently, we are excited to announce that the book is now available for pre-order via Amazon, and will be released by IVP Academic on October 28, 2017. Worldview Textbook - Amazon link
Last week we finished the "copy-editing" process, the last major round of revisions and additions. All that remains now is type-setting, indexing, and proof-reading. In honor of completing the next major portion of the project, I wanted to share a few thoughts regarding the importance of the project - so over the next few weeks we will look at why Worldview is important, and why you ought to engage in some intentional worldview examination and consideration.
"Everybody operates upon a philosophy in life, a worldview that
defines for them the way the world works and how they know things and how they
ought to behave. So philosophy is ultimately a practical reality for all of us.
In this sense, everyone is a philosopher; some are just more aware of it
than others."
BRIAN GODAWA
"Christianity is a world and life view and not simply a series
of unrelated doctrines. Christianity includes all of life. Every realm of
knowledge, every aspect of life and every facet of the universe find their
place and their answer within Christianity. It is a system of truth enveloping
the entire world in its grasp."
EDWIN RIAN
Worldview is a contentious term. Some philosophers
complain that it has become an abused and misused term. Others complain that
worldview is regretfully neglected and overlooked in philosophical and
theological conversations. Others still insist that its use is on the rise,
that it has not yet hit its heyday. Still others do not even know what the
concept is all about. Finally, some assert that worldview is simply an
unhelpful term that can be dispensed with altogether without any profound loss.
The authors of this book are convinced that “worldview matters” matter. As the
chapters that follow will make clear, we believe that thinking worldview-ishly
is essential for responsible, intentional scholars.
“All truth is God’s truth.” Arthur Holmes’s ringing words,
exhorting institutions of Christian higher education to pursue an integrated
Christian worldview throughout their curricula, serve also as the academic
motto of Oklahoma Baptist University, where the authors of this book humbly and
gratefully serve. God is truth, and what God sees is what is true and real. As
followers of God, we likewise seek acquaintance and familiarity with truth.
To that end, we pursue God’s
perspective on the world, for his perspective is true, reliable, and
trustworthy. We desire to see things the way that God sees them—to understand
ourselves, our sin, our redemption, our relationship with Christ, our
relationship with fellow human beings and the rest of creation, our
surroundings, and our terrestrial ball the way that God sees, understands, and
knows things to be. We do not presume to have a corner on all of God’s truth;
we take seriously the remonstration delivered through the prophet Isaiah:
“My thoughts are not your
thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD. (Is 55:8)
Yet we strive and strain
forward, alongside the apostle Paul (Phil 3:15), to attain a truer
understanding of God, ourselves, and our world.
God’s perspective on the world
is, as chapter one will make clear, another way of designating God’s worldview
or the divine worldview. The goal of the thoughtful Christian is to pursue
God’s perspective—that is, to intentionally and consciously cultivate a
Christian worldview. Our goal of becoming Christlike includes our goal of
embracing God’s perspective, seeing the world the way God sees the world. The
goal is not Icarus’s prideful sailing into the sun or Satan’s rebellious
inclination to usurp the divine throne or Adam’s misguided desire to attain
that which is forbidden; rather, our goal resembles a child’s devoted desire to
become like his heavenly Father. This book, then, is an appeal for a continued
revival in Christian worldview thinking.
The book is split into three
parts of approximately equal length. Part one, authored by Tawa Anderson,
focuses on the theoretical side of worldview thinking. Chapter one explores the
concept of worldview itself, tracing its philosophical origins and development,
basic components, and universal existence. Four core worldview questions are
identified as the heart of every individual and corporate worldview: (1) What
is our nature? (2) What is our world? (3) What is our problem? (4) What is our
end? Chapter two identifies the importance and impact of worldview upon the
thoughts and actions of human persons. Anderson argues that worldview exerts
considerable influence through confirmation bias, experiential accommodation,
the pool of live options, and life motivation. Six benefits of intentional
worldview thinking are tentatively identified and explored. Chapter three
outlines the process of worldview analysis, identifying three primary criteria
that can help gauge the truthfulness of various worldviews and their individual
components—internal, external, and existential consistency.
Part two, authored by David
Naugle, expounds upon the contours of a specifically Christian worldview.
Chapter four outlines the narrative core of the Christian story—creation, fall,
redemption, and glorification. Chapter five approaches Christian worldview through
the lenses of our four core worldview questions. Chapter six applies our three
criteria for worldview analysis to Christian worldview, assessing how well it
stands up to rational scrutiny.
Part three, authored by Michael
Clark, engages in comparative worldview analysis. Chapter seven explores three
prominent Western philosophical worldview alternatives (deism, naturalism, and
postmodernism), comparing them to a Christian worldview and applying the three
worldview tests to them. Chapter eight explores two influential global
religious worldview alternatives (Hinduism and Islam), comparing them to a
Christian worldview and applying the worldview tests. The goal of these
chapters is threefold: to better understand these significant worldviews, to
subject them to intentional analysis, and to help the reader begin to gain
competence at identifying worldview components and alternatives expressed by
others. We then close with reflections on pursuing and living out a Christian
worldview, God’s perspective, in our complex pluralistic world.
Each of us writes
unapologetically from within the orthodox Christian tradition. We have been
transformed through our relationship with Jesus Christ and are persuaded that
Christianity is true—not just true for us but true for all people at all times
in all places. We have also been greatly stretched and formed by intentional
worldview thought and consideration. Our hope and prayer is that you will be
challenged, convicted, exhorted, and excited by the chapters that follow.
In 2012, this project began as
a way to help freshmen at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) pursue a biblical
worldview in light of the countless worldviews that vie for their hearts and
minds. As the collaborators for this
book, and the reach of the book, expanded beyond the walls of OBU, our prayer
remains the same: we pray that readers of this book will be stirred to immerse
themselves in God’s Word, and allow it to transform their hearts and minds,
rather than allow the world to shape them into its image.
The Christian
worldview centers on Jesus of Nazareth, the God-man who was born over two
thousand years ago in a humble stable in Bethlehem, and was crucified on a
Roman cross and raised from the dead in Jerusalem about 30 years later. We, as
Christians, have embraced Jesus as Messiah and Lord. He has redeemed us,
provided for us, and loved us constantly despite our flaws and failures. It is
to him, and to his glory, that this book is both dedicated and devoted.
