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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 515
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 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 -
Monotheism – Most of my very close friends believe the the God of the Christian Bible is the “One True God”.
Deism – My coworker Dave believes in God, and goes to church but that is his only connection to God. There is no acknowledgement that you can have an actual relationship with God . He knows of God but he doesn’t know God.
Naturalism – Where I live in Colorado is a New Age stronghold. Everything is determined by the natural forces of nature and its surroundings.
Nihilism – The comedy TV show Brooklyn Nine Nine I believe has a nihilist core. Mind you it is a comedy show but just by how things have changed with their cast roles to cater to the politically correct on a show to show basis, emphasises the nihilism that is represented.
Existentialism – I would say the emergence of “wokism” and transgenderism depicts existentialism to its very core.
Pantheism – Many indigenous people groups from third world nations have a strong foundation in pantheism. This gives way to much superstition.
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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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Monotheism and Deism are the most similar in that they both believe in a god that created the universe. Monotheism and Naturalism contradict each other the most because one believes in God that created and moves the world while the other believes in science and the evolution of matter.
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I would say Judaism and Christianity are close b/c we believe in the same God and both believe that Jesus was a real man.
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Nihilism and existentialism are the most similar. It appears that at the end of the day in these two beliefs, nothing truly matters and there is no reason for life to exist.
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The most similar are Pantheism and Naturalism because they both fixate on creation rather than saying that God made creation.
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Deism and naturalism are most similar due to their dependence upon experience as opposed to personal revelation. The most dissimilar are monotheism and existentialism (and nihilism) due to the disparity between purpose and lack thereof.