Faith and Reason - Ronald Nash

Worldviews

A worldview is the sum total of what a person believes about the most important questions in life. *

 

Like noetic structures, everyone has a worldview, even though most people are unaware they possess one.  A person's worldview is really just a subset of the belief's in their noetic structure.

 

Everyone should take the time to understand what their worldview is, and think of ways they can improve their worldview.

 

What do I believe?

Why do I believe it?

 

Most societal and political clashes are the result of conflicting worldviews.  ie. abortion, secularism vs. religion.   When two people have completely different worldviews, communication will be difficult and they will probably start arguing (fighting.)

 

 

* The Major Elements of a Worldview

 

I. Theology

 

A. Does God Exist?

B. What is God's Nature?

1. Is there just one God?

2. Is God personal or impersonal?

 

II. Metaphysics (Ultimate Reality)

 

A. What is the relationship between God and the universe?

B. Is the universe eternal?  Or was it created?

C. Is the universe purposeful? Or is it mechanistic?

D. Is ultimate reality spiritual or material?

E. Are miracles possible?

 

III. Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge)

 

A. Is knowledge about the world possible?

B. Can we trust our senses?

C. What are the proper roles of reason and sense experience in knowledge?

D. Is truth relative, objective, or both? (Some truths are relative and some objective.)

E. What is the relationship between religious faith and reason?

F. Is knowledge about God possible?

G. Can / has God revealed Himself to humanity?

H.  What is the relationship between the mind of God and the mind of human beings?

I.  Besides our own, are there other minds?

 

IV. Ethics (Politics is just applied ethics)

 

A. Are there moral laws that govern human conduct?

B. If so, what are these laws?

C. Are these laws subjective or objective (independent of what anyone thinks about them?)

D. Are these laws discovered or created?

E. Is morality relative to individuals, cultures or historical periods?  Or does morality transcend individuals, cultures and historical periods?

 

V. Anthropology (Nature of Human Beings)

 

A. Are human beings free or determined?

B. Are human beings only bodies / material beings?

C. Is there a human soul or mind, and if so, how does it relate to the body?

D. Does physical death end the existence of a human person?

1. Is there conscious, personal survival after death?

2. Are there rewards and punishments after death?

3. Are the Christian teachings of heaven and hell correct?

 

The above notes were taken from Ronald Nash's book Faith and Reason.  It contains a very nice overview of some interesting apologetics and philosophy concepts.  I recommend you buy it if you want to learn more.

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