Major Worldviews - Union University
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Transcript Major Worldviews - Union University
Major Worldviews
Theism
Atheism/Agnosticism
Theism
Christianity
Deism
Judaism
Islam
CHRISTIANITY
Prime Reality
God
Is Spirit
Triune
Transcendent
Infinite
Creator
Personality
• Acts and thinks
Character
• Provides basis for
morality
External Reality
God created an
orderly universe
The universe was
created as an open,
cause and effect
system.
Decisions have an
effect.
Who is man?
Man is created in the
image of God.
Value because God
loves us
Creativity to imagine
new things
Personality to make
decisions
Sense of right despite
the Fall
Knowledge
Morality, right and
wrong?
Based upon God’s
character
There is something to
know
Absolute standard
based on God’s
character
Most personal
element
Exercise of free
choice
Existence with God
Aloneness apart from
God
Death?
Meaning of History?
History is linear.
History is purpose of
God in concrete form.
Has meaning
because God is in
charge.
Deism
Prime Reality
External Reality
Who is man?
Knowledge
God is not currently
involved in the world
Closed system,
change is not
possible
Has no relationship
with God
Human reason is
sufficient
Morality, right and
wrong?
Death?
Human history?
God does not speak
to man, morality is
limited to what is
revealed in nature
Creation is not fallen,
man is good and
goes to heaven
Little interest, history
is a closed system
Atheism/Agnosticism
Prime Reality
God does not exist.
Matter is creator
We can’t be certain if
there is a God.
External Reality
Atheism
Agnosticism
Matter is all there is,
all there was and
all that ever will be.”
Carl Sagan
Who is man?
Atheism/Agnosticism
Mankind evolved
People are complex
machines
Personality is made of
interactions of
chemical and physical
properties
Knowledge?
Reason is sole criteria
for truth
Thoughts come from
the properties of
matter
Morality, right and wrong?
Atheism/Agnosticism
Man is judged on
achievements, actions,
aspirations
Culture determines
values
Values relate to human
needs and interests
Ethics are autonomous
and situational
Death?
Atheism/Agnosticism
No afterlife
Laws of matter apply
and man becomes
disorganized and
disappears
Personality and
individuality become
extinct
Meaning of History?
Atheism/Agnosticism
History is linear stream of
events without purpose.
Goal of history is perfect
humanity
Economic factors
determine history
Humans work to satisfy
human needs.
ISLAM
What is the prime reality?
Allah
Maker
Lord and Master
With us all the time
Controls everyone and everything
Has always been
Is One
Has no son
Who is man?
We
are Allah’s Servants
We are made from clay
We are made to worship and obey Allah
What is the reason for morality?
Allah gave us everything we have
We thank Allah when we obey him
We must always try to follow Allah’s guidance so
that we can go to heaven
Five basic duties of Islam (pillars)
Declaration f faith
Daily prayers
Contribute to welfare
Fasting
Pilgrimage
What happens to man at death?
The
day of judgment
Obedience
= rewards (heaven)
Disobedience
= punishment (hell)
What is the meaning to human
history?
Tell
the message: there is no god but Allah
Prophets – Adam, Abraham, David, Jesus,
John
Angels – made from light, record our actions
Mohammed – final prophet, wrote the Qur’an
for Allah
Worldview Tests
1)
•
•
•
A worldview should be rational.
It should not ask us to believe
contradictory things.
Law of Non-contradiction.
A proposition can not be both true and
false at the same time and in the same
sense.
•
It should give a satisfying, comprehensive
explanation of reality
•
It should be able to explain why things
are the way they are.
3. It should provide us with a satisfactory
basis for living.
•
We should not have to borrow elements
from another worldview to live in this
world.
4. It should be supported by evidence.
•
It should be consistent with what we
observe.