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Lesson OneWhat Are the Major Worldviews?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoQuestions a Worldview Seeks To Answer - Part I3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeQuestions a Worldview Seeks To Answer - Part II3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourDistinctives of a Biblical Worldview3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveWhich Worldview Will You Choose?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 491
Discussion Questions
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List a television show, a book, a friend’s opinion, or some other source that illustrates each of the six worldviews listed. Example: Deism—Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon, indicated on a NASA form that he was a deist.
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Monotheism – Isaac Newton
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Monotheism is most common around me in people who actually stick to a worldview. Those around me who aren’t Monotheistic seem to float through life in ways that we could prescribe them with a worldview title… but they aren’t placing it on themselves. Deism and Naturalism are probably the most common in our culture. Unfortunately, Nihilism creeps into the lives of many as well.
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monotheism: I believe in one God and He is part of every aspect of my life.
deism: the founding fathers believed that God created the world but then stepped back from His creation to let it rule itself
naturalism: Darwin believed that evolution of the species is how humans came into being, rather than a creator creating humans
nihilism: many people believe that God doesn’t exist and that the world and everything in it is meaningless. They have no hope for the future because they don’t see the point in the world.
existentialism: Nietzsche was an existentialist as he believed that humans have the free will to decide what they want in their life. He believed that everyone is responsible for their own actions and there is no higher power moving people’s will.
pantheism: many people believe that there are many gods and all are acceptable to worship. They believe that any god chosen will get you to salvation (or whatever that particular religion preaches).
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Monotheism: Heartland – family that prays together to God
Naturalism: Cosmos with Carl Sagen
Deism: most of my college students live in this frame of mind, believing there is probably a God, but no need to concern themselves with him
Nihilism: some of the hippies in Jesus Revolution
Existentialism: Great Gatsby
Pantheism: I have a friend who claims to be a Christian, but also acknowledges the presence and influence of Mother Earth
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Pantheism – A former neighbor was pantheist – she said “we are all God”
Existentialism – I can’t remember the name but read a book that talked about a Hindu man trying to reach self-actualization
Naturalism – someone I know named Tracy who is very into nature and believes that’s all there is
Deism – Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were open deists
Monotheism: Islam – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus; Judaism – our tour guide in Israel who was Jewish, knew all the claims about Jesus yet hasn’t accepted Him
nihilism – someone I know named Larry who doesn’t believe any of it
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Of the six worldviews listed, which two are most alike? Which two are the most dissimilar? Explain.
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Momotheism and Deism both at least acknowledge the Creator, though they may differ on His involmemet with creation.
Nihilism and monotheism may differ the most as the one God has difinitve truth to obey. -
Monotheism and Nihilism are very dissimilar because monotheism is based on God creating everything and being the ultimate authority and nihilism is based on zero authority.
Existentialism and Nihilism appear to be very similar since both are based on each individual creating meaning and significance as both do not believe in a supreme creator.
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Most dissimilar: Pantheism and Naturalism – Pantheists believe that the entire universe is Spirit (non-matter) while Naturalists believe the entire universe is only matter (no spirit).
Most alike: Existentialism and Nihilism – Neither believe in God, purpose, or any objective truth. Morality is (at best) subjective and (at worse) meaningless. The only marginal difference is that an Existentialist might believe they can create their own meaning of life while a Nihilist would not waste their time trying to create meaning at all.
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I would say existentialism and nihilism are the most alike in that they share the premise that objectivity is an illusion. They differ in application of this premise.
The most dissimilar would be monotheism and nihilism. They differ the most sharply in premise and application.
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Most alike: Monotheism and Deism both believe in a singular God who created the world. None of the others point to a singular God that has a personhood and intentional action associated to him.
Most dissimilar: Monotheism and Nihilism because one is based on absolute truth founded upon written Scriptures and sacred texts, and the other dismisses all absolute truth, so it has no foundation.