Worldviews Conclusion

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WorldviewsConclusion

• Berea PCA Church
• Fall 2007
• kvworley_at_msn.com

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Outline

• How Should We Then Live? (video)
• Francis Schaeffer shows influence of worldview
  on progression of Western Civilization Final
  Choices
• Presentation of alternative worldviews
• Conclusion

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Worldview in Media

• I made my annual pilgrimage to the Time
  magazine luncheon designed to narrow down the
  nominees for ____ of the Year on the cover of
  Time. Forgive the blank, but over the years its
  been a noun, a pronoun, a proper nounits been a
  lot of things. My nominee was a womana victim
  of abuse. A strong resilient woman who is a
  constant topic of discussion these days Mother
  Earth.

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A picture is worth a thousand words?
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Worldview in Politics

• I believe God created the heavens and the
  Earth. Faith doesnt just influence me. It
  really defines me. I dont have to wake up every
  day wondering what do I need to believe.

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Worldview in Politics

• In Venezuela, Roman Catholic leaders, media
  freedom groups, human rights groups and prominent
  business leaders worked together in opposing Hugo
  Chavez bid for expanded power. His proposals
  were defeated 51 to 49. This vote was about
  democracy or totalitarian socialism, and
  democracy won.

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Worldview in Entertainment

• The Golden Compass is a new fantasy film
  based on Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials
  triology. This is a gripping, girl- friendly
  takeoff of Lord of the Rings. Its PG-13, but
  what worldview does it advance?

Im trying to undermine the basis of Christian
belief. My books are about killing God.
-- Phillip Pullman
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What is worldview?

• A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental
  orientation of the heart, that can be expressed
  in a story or as a set of presuppositions
  (starting assumptions) which we hold about the
  basic constitution of reality, and that provides
  the foundation on which we live and move and have
  our being.

• James Sire, The Universe Next Door

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Only 12 of evangelicals know what worldview is,
and only 4 said they needed to know anything
about it.
Remember!!
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The True Worldview Summary

• What is really real? The Triune God
• What is the nature of the world around us?
  Orderly creation, not (Macro)Evolution
• What is man? Soul body, image-bearer
• What happens at death? Judgement, Eternal life
  or death
• Why is it possible to know anything? Absolute
  truth exists, God reveals truth generally
  specially
• How do we know right from wrong? By nature and
  moral law. Morals are absolute
• What is the meaning of history? Purposeful and
  linear (Creation / Fall / Redemption / Judgement)

Remember!!
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Final Choices

• There is no absolute ethic to accompany absolute
  power of the coming rule by the manipulative
  authoritarian elite.
• Genetic engineering as tool to thin out
  undesirables.
• Mass media is tool to manipulate.
• Courts, Administration, Congress could become
  tyrannical.
• Will people stand up at great personal cost
  against tyranny if they are promised personal
  peace affluence????
• Pressures are increasing on society (this is
  1976)
• Economic (inflation), Terrorism, Threat of war,
  Shortage of natural resources (food, water, oil,
  etc)
• Only two alternatives
• Give in to imposed order
• Return to affirming our Christian worldview
• Christians have to have the right worldview and
  act on it!

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Your own worldview

• Humbly examine yourself for consistency.
• Humility is not radical skepticism. We open our
  minds, but eventually must close them.
• Must match reality and make sense.
• Must explain the world well.
• Must sit well in your soul.