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Origins & Worldviews
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Overview:
How does a person's view of origins affect their worldview? (A worldview is a person's system of belief.) In
turn, how does a person's worldview affect their view of origins?
As a starting point to this investigation, it is necessary to provide
an overview of worldviews. To keep things simple I will lump all
worldviews into three major categories: Naturalism, and
Transcendentalism, and Theism. Although not all
belief systems will cleanly fall in these three categories, I feel
these categories provide a context for addressing the major issues
related to the interface
between origins and worldviews.
3 Categories for Worldviews
Naturalism
This worldview holds to the view that the material universe
is the sum of all reality. What can be explored through
scientific inquiry (experiment and rational models), is reality.
Explanations for all observed phenomena boil down to the interaction of
particles through forces. There is a degree of lawfulness, but
due to quantum mechanics there is an inherent uncertainty and
randomness to the universe. Our existence as intelligent beings
is due to the combined action of physical laws and random
interactions. Any ephemeral characteristics perceived by
intelligent beings (such as love, hope, empathy, etc.) are the result
of biochemical interactions with adaptive benefit. The concept of
god does not have any physical reality and ultimately has no impact on
the physical universe.
Worldviews that fall under this category of naturalism are atheism,
humanism, and existentialism. Materialism is another term that
applies to this category. When the Apostle Paul was in Athens
(Acts 17), he was approached by the Epicureans and Stoics. The
Epicureans would hold to a naturalistic worldview.
Transcendentalism
This worldview holds to the view that there is a spiritual
nature to all reality. There are two worlds: a material world and
a spiritual world. The material world is temporal and will
eventually cease. However, the spiritual world is eternal and
provides the life force that brings order to the physical
universe. Our existence as intelligent beings is part of a cosmic
plan and once we are free of this physical body we will be reunited
with the universal life force. God is this universal life force
that gives order to the universe. We are part of the universal
life force and, therefore, are also part of god.
Worldviews that fall under this category are pantheism, animism, and
polytheism. In the Apostle Paul's address at the Areopagus in
Athens
he addressed the Stoics with the statement "your own poets have said,
For we are also his offspring." (Acts 17: 28, KJV) He uses this
statement to point out that we should not expect God to be represented
by an idol. Examining Paul's address, it is clear that he taught a
worldview significantly different than the transcendentalism of the
Stoics.
Theism
This worldview holds to the view that there is a
transcendent God who is the creator of the universe. By
transcendent, I mean that God is not part of the creation and that He
is beyond what we can comprehend. The physical laws were
established by Him, but they do not apply to Him. Man is a
created being and has both a material and immaterial part. Man's
soul is eternal and he is accountable to his creator.
Worldviews that fall under this category are deism, finitism, and
traditional theism. The distinction between different forms of
theism lies in how God is seen to work in his creation. If God
works his plan purely through secondary causation (lawfulness of the
universe), there is no need for Him to work in a miraculous
manner. What are considered miraculous events, such as the Flood
and the Crossing of the Red Sea, can be explained through a unique
coincidence of natural physical effects. If God works his plan
through primary causation (miraculous intervention), there is a need
for him to supersede the physical laws of the universe at times
throughout history.
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Last edited
8/31/05.