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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 512
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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1. Monotheism
Belief in one personal, involved God who created and sustains the world.
Example: Touched by an Angel shows God’s love and guidance in people’s lives.
<div>
</div>2. Deism
Belief that God created the world but does not intervene in it; the universe runs on natural laws.
Example: The Age of Reason argues for belief in a distant Creator, without organized religion.
<div>
</div>3. Naturalism
Belief that only the physical world exists, and everything can be explained by science and nature.
Example: Cosmos explores the universe through science, without reference to the supernatural.
<div>
</div>4. Nihilism
Belief that life has no inherent meaning, purpose, or value.
Example: True Detective (Season 1) portrays a dark, meaningless view of life and the universe.
<div>
</div>5. Existentialism
Belief that life has no set meaning, so individuals must create their own purpose.
Example: The Good Place explores how people can choose to live meaningful, ethical lives.
<div>
</div>6. Pantheism
Belief that God is everything, and everything is God; the universe itself is divine.
Example: Avatar: The Last Airbender shows a spiritual connection with nature and all life.
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I have seen examples of all of these worldviews in various characters on different TV shows and movies. I do not read many books on different philosophies and do not follow the celebrities much now that I have found Jesus to be the Truth. I have spoken with many people, however, who have a mixed belief system though they may not know from what worldviews they are basing their beliefs from. I came from a non religious home, with no understanding of any religion, though my mom believed that God existed, and I always believed this as well. I mixed many of these beliefs into my idea of life; choosing what concepts I liked to make my conscience comfortable. but Jesus made Himself known to me when these beliefs no longer could help me with the struggles I had in the direction my life was going.
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Monotheism – the belief in one God
Deism – a Creator God who does not intervene in human affairs
Naturalism – Aristotle, Carl Sagan and others who believed in natural laws and forces versus supernatural one.
Nihilism – main tenants include existence is useless, there is no truth and everything is meaningless.
Existentialism – explores the realty of human experience and the meaning of our existence. A form of moral relativism develops. We have our own independent moral view, if it feels good to you, do it.
Pantheism – that is no single God rather many.
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Some of the more famous Deists included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Deism likely reflects my view of God for the first 30 years of life before I came to faith in Christ. My father died when I was 9 years old and my mother at age 16. My mother’s death had a profound impact on me as a young person. I had a believe that there was a creator God, but that God was essentially disengaged from the affairs of my life, didn’t seem to care and thus was not a God that I could submit my life to. My view of God was based on my personal experiences and my view of my earthly father. How could a loving God allow both of my parents to be taken from me.
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Monotheism: John 17: Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer
Deism: A Discourse of Free Thinking, Anthony Collins, circa 1713
Naturalism: “The Call of the Wild” Jack London
Nihilism: “Nihilism and Technology” Nolan Gertz (I thought this was an interesting view on our modern technology driven world)
Existentialism: “Waiting for Godot” Samual Beckett (play)
Pantheism: New age spirituality: Lao Tzu, Wayne Dyer although did not publicly proclaim Christianity believed overcoming limiting beliefs that involved spiritual connection. His beliefs aimed somewhat in the middle of Deism and Pantheism.
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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 both believe in a Creator.
Nihilism and Existentialism both propose that life is meaningless.
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Monotheism and Deism are most similar in the belief of a singular God who is the creator.
Monotheism and Nihilism are the most dissimilar in that Nihilism sees existence as random and meaningless where as Monotheism holds to a personal God who gives life, purpose, and value
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Monotheism and Deism are most similar in the belief of a singular God who is the creator.
Monotheism and Nihilism are the most dissimilar in that Nihilism sees existence as random and meaningless where as Monotheism holds to a personal God who gives life, purpose, and value
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The two most alike worldviews are Monotheism and Deism. Monotheist believe in One God whom created everything and is involved, whereas a Deist believes in one God, however He does not get involved in His creation. The two most dissimilar worldviews would be a Monotheism and Naturalism. Monotheist believes in One God that is involved (including in creation), however, a Naturalist doesn’t believe in a creator, instead live could and does come from nonliving matter over an extended period of time.
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I would say that Judaism and Christianity are the most alike. They both believe in the God of Israel, that the Old Testament is God-breathed, and that a Messiah is the one that brings salvation, Jews just do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and that they are still waiting on Him.
The most dissimilar are probably Christianity and Nihilism–primarily because of the origin story and how one believes that life is purposeless and the other believers that everything has a purpose.
