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Worldview
Considering the OptionsWith a Focus on Postmodernism
Wisconsin Pathfinder Leaders12-14 October 2012
John Matthews, PhD
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Worldview: 6.7 Billion Options
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Worldview: Theism
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Worldview: Pantheism
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Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism
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Worldview: Theism
What is Theism? . . . Does it Make Sense, & Is
It Consistent & Defensible?
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Worldview: Christian Theism
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Christian Theism: Who is God?
The Christian God: Who is he/what is he like?• Holy, omnipotent, omniscient,
omnipresent, immanent, sovereign, good, etc., etc. . . .
• Job 38-42 • How much do we know about God?
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Christian Theism: Challenges
• Can a God who transcends nature be proven?
• If God is omnipotent, is he responsible for both good and bad? Why is there suffering? [Potentia absoluta & ordinata]
• If God is omniscient (knows past/present/future), is the universe determined & freedom an illusion?
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Christian Theism: Strengths• Theism allows for the possibility of
rational thought , in an ordered but open universe
• Theism gives meaning to life because it gives purpose to the universe (teleology)
Consider: “God is dead!” Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900
• Theism allows for a coherent system of ethics. C. S. Lewis
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Theism: Why I am a ChristianChristianity offers hope for the human dilemma
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Worldview: Pantheismand New Age
Eastern Thought and Its Influence in the
West
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Worldview: Eastern Monistic Pantheism
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Pantheism: Who Are Eastern Pantheists?
A Simplistic Response to the Question Above: • Hindus• Buddhists• Taoists• Etc., [as there is a myriad of western ideologies,
so is there a myriad of Eastern philosophies and religions]
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Pantheism: Basic Questions
In Eastern Monistic Pantheism:
• What is real cosmically?• What is real in terms of human
existence?[Atman is Brahman]
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Pantheism: Challenges
If one accepts Eastern Monistic Pantheism, how does one explain: • the need to develop positive karma in
an amoral universe?• the fact that, as the essence of an
amoral monistic universe, and therefore “god,” an individual is capable of doing bad things
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Pantheism: Strengths
Eastern Monistic Pantheism• allows humans to control their own
destinies• offers hope to all, in that all paths lead
to the “divine,” i.e., to achievement of Nirvana
• encourages peace, harmony, and positive relationship
• encourages a positive ecology
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Worldview: New Age
4 DIMENSIONs: Length, breadth, height, time (the “natural” world as normally experienced)
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5th DIMENSION: Spiritual (but in the box, not supernatural)
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Worldview: New Age
Three versions of New Age “reality”:
• Occult • Psychedelic• Conceptual Relativistic
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New Age: Challenges
If one accepts New Age, how does one explain: • The conflict that arises in the natural
or spiritual realms if I am the god of my world & you are the god of yours
• moral behavior in a system made of individual kingdoms
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New Age: Strengths
New Age • allows humans to direct their destinies
by tapping the power of the “5th Dimension”
• offers hope to all, in that the individual soul is indestructable
• builds on relational aspects of eastern philosophy without losing individuality
• encourages a positive ecology
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New Age: Influences
How has New Age Changed the World? • Anthropology & Ecology• Natural Science (the prophetic nature
& influence of Sci-Fi) • Health (alternative medicine)• Religion (spirituality, as opposed to
religion)• Entertainment
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Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism
What is Philosophical Naturalism? . . . And Why
Should I Care?The Secular Option
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Worldview: Philosophical Naturalism
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Worldview: Philosophical Nihilism
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Worldview: Philosophical Nihilism
Edvard Munch, The Scream”
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Worldview: Atheistic Existentialism
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Worldview: Humanism – Transcending beyond the box
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Worldview: Humanism – Transcending within the box
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Worldview: Humanism – Tne Quantum leap
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Worldview: Postmodernism – Is their a box ?
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Philosophical Naturalism: Challenges If one accepts philosophical naturalism, how does one explain: • human freedom in a closed system?• moral behavior in an amoral cosmos?
[What can be done with the problem of guilt?]
• Evolutionary natural selection (survival of the fittest) in a world that argues for the rights of the oppressed & marginalized?
• the postmodern dilemma (everything is a lie)
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Philosophical Naturalism: Strengths
Philosophical naturalism in its humanistic form • allows humans to be responsible for
their own destiny (good or bad)
• Gives the appearance of being logical, rational, consistent, coherent, & scientific (with one “little” faith-based presuppositional exception)
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NewAge
Idealism
Xtianity
Realism
Postmod Xt Exist
NihilismSecHum
AthExist
Hindu
Buddha
Etc
Deism
Judaism
Islam Worldview: Which Option?
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Worldview: Which Option?
• Theism? Believed but not proven – it requires faith because its concept of reality cannot be empirically verified
• Philosophical Naturalism?
Apparently logical but – it requires faith because of an epistemological conundrum
• Pantheism? Offers hope to all but – it requires faith in an inconsistent axiology (ethical framework)
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Worldview: Engagement Strategy
1. Know your story, both as an ideology & a lived experience
2. Know the strengths & challenges
of the story of those whom you wish to engage, so you may dialogue about their story, exploring its challenges
3. “Capture” your audience, retelling the story, to show how the challenges of their story are met by the strengths of your story
Curtis Chang, Engaging Unbelief