four main worldviews

Four Main Worldviews

Worldviews

worldview – a way of thinking, feeling and acting about life

a secular (or non-religious) view evolved from historical movements

Cosmocentric worldview – “nature, universe centred”

nature is alive with spiritall life is dependent on nature, environmenteverything is part of a web of lifePaganism, aboriginal spirituality/communities

have this viewEastern traditions – everything is connected

(past/present, community (individualism is not a priority), karma, dharma) – animal rights

Theocentric worldview – “God centred”

life comes from a loving, wise, all-powerful God

life’s purpose is to know GodPeople are created in God’s image and we are

co-creatorsSociety needs values that benefit all creation;

and are pleasing to God (Golden rule, natural law)

all religions fit into this worldview in some way

Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred”

human lives and communities are centralmodern worldviews, including most religious ones

=anthropocentric e.g. humanism – humans have worth and

freedom (combines with both secular and religious values) – based on Greek and Roman thought “reborn” in the Renaissance

Respect, knowledge, free will are key to improving world

The best human creations/values lead to the common good

Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred”

Western religions fit the anthropocentric view:

Charity is highly regarded/obligatory (tzedakah, zakat, corporal works of mercy)

Ethic of Reciprocity (Golden Rule)Views correspond with laws of gov’tsCommunity relationships, worship–

different view than Indian religionsScripture-based religions – knowledge,

religious education a high priority 

Secular worldview

secular means “time” or “age” – believes in the values of the present time, no concern for eternity

actively opposed to religion – think it denies humans’ power

there is no divine creator or purpose – nothing is sacred

emphasis on progress of society and economics nature is only matter - meets human needshumans are self-sufficient - no need for God values are created by humans and are relative – no

absolute right/wrong

Some of the backstory…“The next 10 years will be very unlike the last 10 years”

How did secularism arise?

Scientific discovery (Copernicus, Newton, Galileo)– late 15th c., navigation, math, astronomy – challenged previously-held religious beliefs

Printing press – new theories spread rapidlyDeism – “clock and clockmaker”The Enlightenment – 17th-18th c., rationalism

(universe could be understood without religion) Voltaire – Deist, believed religion was superstitious, held humans back

How did secularism arise?

Skepticism toward religion arose in this period

Industrial revolution – 18th-19th c. – led to urbanization (move to cities - loss of connection to nature)

Atheistic views – arose in the 19th c, attacked the theocentric view as a creation of the human mind

Karl Marx – witnessed oppression of class system, called religion the “opiate of the masses” – kept the poor ignorant and submissive. Writings borrowed from his Jewish heritage. Introduced communism.

How did secularism arise?

Friedrich Nietzsche – saw religion as immature, keeping people weak. “God is dead”

Sigmund Freud – studied human psyche, concluded that religion is based on a childish need to obey (“father figure”).

Charles Darwin – made no statements about religion, but his theory of evolution was seen a challenge to religion – saw God as “the ultimate lawgiver” – qualified the survival of the fittest

Responses to Secularism

Three modern developments have come out of the pushing aside of traditional worldviews:

dominance of secular culture (3 defining features)reaction of religious fundamentalismrise of cults, sects, new age mov’ts.

3 defining features of the secular view

values of secularism at its worst are (Trafford, pp 33-35): Individualism self over all others – competition, less compassion, common good? needs are met at expense of others’ needs - survival of the fittest Consumerism personal appearance and material goods are most important objects provide status, happiness and worth instant gratification, leisure time spent shopping. creates poverty, environmental destruction, self-absorption,

meaninglessness  Moral relativism No absolute morals Responsibility and duty are not values worth considering -success is the

measure apply this to sexuality, technology, social justice, peace

Consumerism – “the story of stuff” and “the high price of materialism”

Cultural Dimension (me or we)