First, a brief overview of what a "worldview" is. For those of you who enjoy trans-lingual etymology (and hey, who doesn't), the term is derived from the German Weltanschauung, which basically translates to "world perception," or a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint. 1 Perhaps the easiest way to think of a worldview is to just imagine it as a pair of tinted glasses that we all wear, which filters what we see based on what we want or expect to see. The problem is that we all have a worldview, even if you can't describe it or haven't given it much thought.
The Myth of Neutrality
So if everyone has a worldview, can anyone be truly neutral in any given situation? The simple answer is "no." In any given debate on morality or ethics or even something simple as what you want for lunch, your worldview is going to affect your decisions. This doesn't have to be a bad thing though. If you have a well formed and well examined worldview, this can actually help you in making sure the answers you arrive at are sound and coherent. In the rest of this post, I'd like to illustrate what having a well formed worldview can mean to yourself and the way you see others. First though, I feel it should be noted that I am not implying that objective information or morality can't be known, merely that in order to discover this takes a careful consideration of the filter through which you are seeing. For instance if you know that your "glasses" have a red tint, then it can help you identify that the "orange" you're seeing is really a yellow. As analogies go, I admit it's not the best, but hopefully you get the point. If you haven't given your worldview some thought, you may not even stop to think about what you're really looking at.
Importance of Identifying Your Own Worldview
As stated, everyone has a worldview, whether you've examined it or not. Unfortunately, not everyone has given theirs much thought, and as a result, there may be holes or ideas that don't really hold up under scrutiny. When you feel pressured on something that you haven't thought through carefully, the tendency is to lash out with abuse or quote a favorite rhetorical phrase meant to halt conversation. "When a cherished view is at stake, it's not unusual for people to raise empty objections - objections that initially sound worthwhile, but simply can't be defended once examined. 2" This not only puts a stop to any meaningful conversation, but it's also embarrassing (believe me, I've fallen into this problem myself more than once). If you develop a solid ground for why you hold to what you believe, you won't feel the need to resort to this sort of reactionary defense. You'll become much more presentable and be better adept at conveying truth in a more understandable way. Also, by constantly re-evaluating your own worldview, you'll avoid the danger of becoming too dogmatic in your beliefs and not considering the positions held by others. One of the most important things you can admit to yourself is "I could be wrong."
Importance of Identifying the Worldviews of Others
Perhaps the best reason to focus on the concept of worldviews is because it will aid you in understanding the positions of other people and better empathize with their beliefs and why they believe what they do. This is the most important lesson we can learn as compassionate human beings seeking to make a difference in the world, one that's often called the "Principle of Charity". By understanding what a person really thinks and maybe the reasons why, we can avoid creating "straw men" of easily defeated beliefs that no one really holds. Proverbs 18:13 If you take the time to understand the filter through which someone is seeing, it should give you a better understanding of where that filter has holes or falls apart. If you can identify where the worldview of someone else doesn't hold up, you can help them see it as well. More often then not, it can be a simple belief or preconceived notion that the person has never really looked at closely themselves.
Worldview Quick-Tips and Checklist
At this point, you may be wondering how to identify a solid worldview or how to examine your own. Since a worldview involves a sum total of held beliefs about the world, it's very hard to examine as a whole. The best thing I can suggest is that you take a look at the individual arguments for a particular belief and see if they hold together. In this regard, I'm afraid I'll just have to refer you to better resources than just me. Kenneth Samples of Reasons to Believe has a great 5-Point Checklist for making a sound argument that any well developed worldview should also have. The characteristics of any good argument should be clear, concise, cogent, considerate and compelling.
In closing, I would however like to offer a quick-tip summary of worldview concepts for everyday use.
- Recognize that everyone has a worldview, whether they've developed it or not.
- Take a close look at your own worldview and see if it meets the criteria of being clear, concise, cogent, considerate and compelling (refer to Kenneth Samples 5-point checklist for details)
- Be honest with yourself and accept the phrase "I could be wrong about what I believe."
- Avoid "Straw Men" fallacies and learn the "Principle of Charity"
- If you see an inconsistency in someone's worldview, help walk them through it rather than simply pointing it out triumphantly.
- Worldviews are not limited to one-on-one conversations. Every book, movie and story is told through a worldview perspective.
- Don't fall for the myth of neutrality. It's impossible to avoid one's worldview. Make sure yours is solid.
1 - Weltanschauung - Meriam Webster Dictionary Online
2 - Tactics, Greg Koukl - Page 87
Today's Recommendations
A World of Difference, Kenneth Samples
Sadly, I have not had a chance to read this book, however I have listened to Kenneth Samples speak on the subject often (if you couldn't tell from the blog by now) and it comes highly recommended from many other sources.
Recommended Listening
Worldviews Throughout History, Probe Ministries
A brief podcast on the history of the christian worldview and influences.
Recommended Research
Though Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies
An informative site on the most common logical fallacies to avoid. A good tool for examining solid worldviews and identifying faulty arguments.
Today's Challenge
Watch a movie, read a book or engage in a conversation with someone. See if you can identify the worldview that the author is coming from. Locate any inconsistencies in that view and then scrutinize your own belief in that area. Does your own worldview hold up or do you need to re-evaluate your own take on the subject?
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