four main worldviews

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Four Main Worldviews

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Four Main Worldviews. Worldviews. w orldview – 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 i s alive with spirit - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Four Main Worldviews

Four Main Worldviews

Page 2: Four Main Worldviews

Worldviews

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

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

Page 3: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 4: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 5: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 6: Four Main Worldviews

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 

Page 7: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 8: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 9: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 10: Four Main Worldviews

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.

Page 11: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 12: Four Main Worldviews

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.

Page 13: Four Main Worldviews

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

Page 14: Four Main Worldviews

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

Cultural Dimension (me or we)