Views of Creation affect World View

Anthropology: Human nature 1

The call of the Bible is to The call of the Bible is to ““repentrepent””, , meaning to meaning to ““change onechange one’’s minds mind”” about about

life and reality. Such a change begins life and reality. Such a change begins with the basic concept of a worldview. with the basic concept of a worldview. To participate in an athletic event it To participate in an athletic event it helps to be in the same ballpark!helps to be in the same ballpark!

“A world view provides a model of the world which guides its adherents in the world”.

Walsh and Middleton (1984) The Transforming Vision

It is the lens through which we see the world.

Arthur Holmes:“The need to unify thought and life; the need

to define the good life and find hope and meaning in life; the need to guide thought; the need to guide action”


World View Definition

It should be rational: should not ask us to believe contradictory things

It should be supported by evidence: consistent with what we observe

It should give a satisfying comprehensive explanation of reality: why things are as they are

It should provide a satisfactory basis for living: not forcing us to borrow from another world view to survive


Testing of World Views

1.Theism2.Naturalism3.Pantheism


Three World Viewssee human nature

differently

• Our view determines how we educate children, punish criminals, run our government and view ethical differences

• Theism is seen as simplistic, while Naturalism and Pantheism are reductionists (both which detract from uniqueness and purpose)

• These views are mutually exclusive: they might all be wrong, but cannot all be right!!

Naturalism: Man is a biological

“machine” which evolved totally by chance without purpose

Pantheism: Man is seen as forgetful deity whose essence is a complex of energy fields. Reality is hidden by an illusion of apparent physical world.

Theism: Man is a special creation who accepts the reality of physical and spiritual natures. A balanced livable view of what it means to be humanAnthropology: Human nature 5

Distinctions

Are humans special in any way? Do we have purpose and origin that sets us apart from the rest of the animal or material world?

Are we good, evil or neither?

What happens when we die?Anthropology: Human nature 6

Questions world views must answer

To Naturalist who believe no spiritual reality exists, the answer is irrational. God is irrelevant.

Man is no more than an random accident of mindless evolution of time plus chance

Sartre argued that man must make his own meaning in the face of absurd universe. He is autonomous, self-centered and must save himself


Are humans special to the Naturalist?Are humans special to the Naturalist?

Terminator II, Arnold Schwartzenegger:Boy:”Listen to me carefully, ok? You’re not a Terminator anymore.

All right? You got that? You just can’t go around killing people.Terminator: “Why?Boy: “What do you mean, ‘Why?’ ‘Cause you can’t!Terminator: Why?Boy: “’Cause you just can’t, ok? ‘Trust me on this!”

All life forms are divine, i.e. complex energy fields

Gerald Jampolsky argues that love is only part of man that is real—but it can’t be defined!

A radical monism, “all is one and all is god”Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh:“There is no purpose in life; existence is non-purposive. That is why it is called a leela, “a play”. Existence itself has no purpose to fulfill. It is not going anywhere…there is no end that it is moving toward”


Are humans special to New Age Pantheist?

Are humans special to New Age Pantheist?

All men created in God’s image (1:26) Created for a purpose, to glorify God Jesus gave additional purposes in Matt 22:37-39 Love God Love your neighbor

Christianity doesn’t reduce man to his material physical nature or merely to non-material invisible energy nature Rather recognizes the real complexity of

humanity as physical, emotional and spiritual components Anthropology: Human nature 9

Are humans special to Theists?

NATURALIST Question of good and evil apply only to survival

How moldable is human behavior: Skinner believed humans are completely programmable via conditioning methods

Wilson, “Human emotions and ethics have been programmed to a “substantial degree” by evolutionary experience: people are being coded to respond to conditions by evolution”

Jean-Paul Sartre believed humans are “choosing machines” completely free to choose who they shall be: either ruler or drunk. Neither is better than the other since everything is meaningless, without moral value.”


Are we good, bad or neither?


PANTHEISTS had difficulty with notion of “good and evil”. They are indifferent:

“In the totality of Beingness there is no absolute anything—no rights or wrongs, no higher or lower aspects—only the infinite interaction of forces, subtle and gross, that have meaning only in relationship to one another”Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh: “I am totally passive. Whatsoever happens, happens. I never question why, because there is no one to be asked”CHRISTIANITY: Universe created by a personal, moral Creator God, for good purposes.

Creation is in a fallen state due to rebellion against God

Humans are inclined to sin, and born in state of sinfulness

Explains potential for goodness, sense of justice and inclination toward evil




Naturalist:

Bertran Russell, “people are lumps of impure carbon and water, dividing their time between labor to postpone their normal dissolution and frantic struggle to hasten it for others”

Movie: FlatLiners involved young doctors who wanted to die and be brought back just to see if there was anything out there: conclusion—death means extinction


What happens after death?

Pantheist Death is an inconvenience on road to nirvana.

Multiple reincarnations permit accumulation of karma until oneness with universe in thought and action is attained

Illustrated by a drop of water falling into ocean loosing its identity and oneness with universal energy occurs



Christianity Denies the reincarnation and extinction Death is door to continual existence which begins with a destiny-judgment (Heb 9:27)

Considered a lineral view of history: single life—universal death—judged by God—destiny

Based on historical evidence of Christ’s life and divine dealing with Israel, the biblical account is trustworthy

Those who have trusted in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross will spend eternity in glorified bodies worshipping and fellowshipping with their Creator God



Views of Creation affect World View

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