War of the Worldviews Part 4

the Postmodern Worldview

Forced to face the inhumanity, destruction, and horror brought about by the Third Reich and the Soviet Gulag during the first half of the 20th century, a substantial group of Enlightenment humanists and neo-Marxists abandoned their worldview to create one they believed more fitting with reality, resulting in the Postmodern turn. By the 1980's, Postmodern professors were making significant inroads in humanities and social science departments around the world.

Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland notes that Postmodernism refers to a philosophical approach primarily in the area of epistemology, or what counts as knowledge or truth. Broadly speaking, Moreland says "Postmodernism represents a form of cultural relativism about such things as truth, reality, reason, values, linguistic meaning, the 'self' and other notions."

Though Postmodernism comes in many forms, there are three unifying values: (1) a commitment to relativism; (2) an opposition to metanarratives, or totalizing explanations of reality that are true for all people of all cultures; and (3) the idea of culturally created realities. Each of these commitments are designed to deny that there is a worldview or belief system that can be considered absolute Truth.

Postmodernism's most effective methodological tool, one used extensively in university modern language departments, is known as Deconstruction, which means (1) that words do not represent reality, and (2) that concepts expressed in sentences in any language are arbitrary.

Some Postmodernists go so far as to deconstruct humanity itself. Thus, along with the death of God, truth, and reason, humanity is also obliterated. Paul Kugler notes the ironic twist: "Today, it is the speaking subject who declared God dead one hundred years ago whose very existence is now being called into question."

To complicate matters even further, we must acknowledge that there even exists a variety of Postmodernism called "Christian Postmodernism." Such is the essence of mainstream Postmodernism-a worldview that claims there are no worldviews. This "anti-worldview" worldview is one that certainly demands the attention of thoughtful Christians.

Conclusion

We cannot overstate the significance of these five anti-Christian worldviews. The basis for much of what is taught in the public classroom today comes from Secular, Marxist, Cosmic Humanist, and Postmodern thinking and takes on a variety of labels: liberalism, multiculturalism, political correctness, deconstructionism, or self-esteem education. Or, as is often the case, the labels are dropped and courses are taught from anti-Christian assumptions without students being told which worldview is being expressed. Neutrality in education is a myth.

The first chapter of the Book of Daniel explains how Daniel and his friends prepared themselves to survive and flourish amid the clash of worldviews of their day. We believe that Christian young people equipped with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Christian worldview and its rivals can become "Daniels" who will not stand on the sidelines, but will participate in the great collision of worldviews in the twenty-first century.

Society will flourish in the light of truth only when the emphasis shifts back to a Christian perspective. This dramatic shift in emphasis can be brought about through the leadership of thousands of informed, confident Christian students who think deeply and broadly from a well-honed biblical worldview and emerge as leaders in education, business, science, and government.

*Most of the first four blogs were taken from David Noebel's article, "Understanding the 6 Wordviews that rule the world."

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 3

The Marxist Worldview

Marxism is a militantly atheistic, materialistic worldview. It has developed a perspective regarding each of the ten disciplines-usually in great detail. Based on the writings of Karl Marx in the late 1800s, Marxism has taken on some new looks in recent years-including debasing culture as a form of revolutionary activity. The latest Communist Manifesto, titled Empire, was published in 2000 by Harvard University Press. Marx's presence continues to be felt around the world.

Marxism predominates on many American university campuses. Recruited as college students in the 1950s and '60s, many Marxist "radicals" earned PhDs and are now the tenured faculty on many campuses. "With a few notable exceptions," says former Yale professor Roger Kimball, "our most prestigious liberal arts colleges and universities have installed the entire radical menu at the center of their humanities curriculum at both the undergraduate and the graduate level." U. S. News and World Report published a lengthy article in 2003 entitled "Where Marxism Lives Today," which states, "Marxism is so entrenched in courses ranging from literature to anthropology… that today's students are virtually bathed in Marx's ideas."

The "radical menu" Kimball referred to includes a large serving of economic determinism. According to Karl Marx, the key problem with capitalism is that it breeds exploitation. Therefore, capitalism must be replaced with a more humane economic system, one that abolishes free markets (private property and the free and peaceful exchange of goods and services) and replaces it with a government-controlled economy.

Marx's economic ideas and political policy go hand in hand. A Marxist style communism controls a large number of nations around the world, and traveling under the name of "social democracy," a Marxist inspired political philosophy has engulfed Western European nations. Further, many South American countries have also taken a Marxist turn in recent years, and many think that the current administration and congress of the United States is quickly taking America down the same socialist road.

In addition, some Christian groups have attempted to combine their Christianity with Marx's ideas of social equality. Because of the prevalence and subversive nature of Marxism, Christians must be aware of the goals of Marxist-thinking professors, politicians, and theologians.

The Cosmic Humanist Worldview

The Cosmic Humanist worldview consists of two interrelated spiritual movements. One is known as the New Age Movement (NAM), and the other is neo-paganism, which includes occult practices, Native American spiritism, and Wicca.
The New Age Movement mixes ancient Eastern religions (especially Hinduism and Zen Buddhism) with a touch of other religious traditions, adds a smattering of scientific jargon, and imports the newly baked concoction into mainstream America. "The New Age," explains researcher Johanna Michaelsen, "is the ultimate eclectic religion of self: Whatever you decide is right for you is what's right, as long as you don't get narrow-minded and exclusive about it."

The assumption that truth resides within each individual, however, becomes the cornerstone for a worldview. Granting oneself the power to discern all truth is a facet of theology, and this theology has ramifications that many members of the New Age movement have already discovered. Marilyn Ferguson, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy (a book referred to as "The New Age watershed classic"), says the movement ushers in a "new mind-the ascendance of a startling worldview."

This worldview is summed up by Jonathan Adolph: "In its broadest sense, New Age thinking can be characterized as a form of utopianism, the desire to create a better society, a 'New Age' in which humanity lives in harmony with itself, nature, and the cosmos."

While New Age believers make no serious distinctions between religions, considering that all are ultimately the same, John P. Newport explains that "neopagans generally believe that they are practicing an ancient folk religion, whether as a survival or a revival. Thus, being focused on the pagan religions of the past, they are not particularly interested in a New Age of the future."

Through best-selling books and popular television shows and movies,the Cosmic Humanist worldview is gaining converts in the West and around the world. Malachi Martin lists dozens of organizations that are either New Age or sympathetic to Cosmic Humanist views. Clearly, Cosmic Humanism, a transplant from the East, is a growing presence throughout the Western hemisphere.

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 2

The Islamic Worldview

It is estimated there are 1.3 billion followers of Islam. The Islamic worldview has been under the radar, for the most part, for the last 1200 years, but in recent years (post 9-11), it has gained attention and influence. Muslims believe that Islam provides an ideal framework for all of human existence -- individual and social, political and economic, intellectual and spiritual. He believed equally that in all these various aspects the religion had been obscured or distorted by an influx of alien influences.

Christianity and Islam have some teachings in common, including belief in a God, creation of the material universe, angels, immortality of the soul, heaven, hell, and judgment of sin. Likewise, Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet (one of many), his virgin birth, physical ascension, second coming and miracles.

The major differences between Christianity and Islam is Islam's rejection of the biblical Trinitarian God and the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. Muslims likewise reject Jesus' physical resurrection from the dead and his claim to be the Son of God. Their idea of the fall of man is also very different. They also say that the Bible has been changed (Although they can not tell you when, where and how) because it completely contradicts the Qu'ran.

Another major difference between the founder of Christianity and the founder of Islam is that the Bible describes Jesus as living a sinless life while the traditions of Islam depict Muhammad having many flaws. Muhammad's practice and constant encouragement of bloodshed are unique in the history of religions. Murder, pillage, rape, and more murder are in the Qu'ran and in the Traditions. Furthermore, Muhammad's life seems to have impressed his followers with a profound belief in the value of bloodshed as opening the gates of Paradise. Thus, the history of Islam from 622 A.D. to the present has been a history of violence, submission, and war toward infidels (non-Muslims).

There are a number of Muslims, particularly those living in Western democracies, who do not believe the Qu'ran's violent passages regarding killing infidels and Islam's violent history should be applied literally today. Yet, in either case, Islam is a worldview with which Christians must contend.

The Secular Humanist Worldview

Secular Humanism refers primarily to the ideas and beliefs outlined in the Humanist Manifestos of 1933, 1973, and 2000. Secular Humanism is the dominant worldview on the majority of colleges and universities throughout all Western nations. It has also made gains in many Christian colleges and universities, especially in the areas of biology, sociology, law, politics, and history.

Secular Humanists recognize the classroom as a powerful incubator for indoctrinating students into their worldview. Operating under the educational buzzword "liberalism," a Secular Humanist agenda controls the curriculum in America's public schools thanks to the National Education Association, the National Academy of Sciences, and a host of foundations, including the Ford Foundation.
It is very ironic that this is the dominant worldview in America today and yet, almost 90% of Americans polled believe in God. This is also the dominant worldview in the church today.

The ideas of Humanism have gained prominent influence throughout modern society. B.F. Skinner, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm, all former "Humanists of the Year," have powerfully affected the discipline of psychology. Scientists such as the late Carl Sagan, another "Humanist of the Year," preached his Humanism on a widely heralded television and high school curriculum series. More recently, the outspoken atheist and Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins has gained much attention through a number of popular books on evolution and, of course, his 2006 best-seller, The God Delusion. Clearly, Humanists are willing to support their worldview-often more faithfully than Christians. For these and other reasons, we must give the Secular Humanist worldview close attention.

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 1

Today, I am going to start a series on worldviews. I couldn't tell you how many parts this is going to be, but, my goal is to try to hit on the basics concerning worldviews and then turn to the Christian worldview and what it is to be. George Barna's research shows that 96% of professing Christians have a Biblical worldview. This is alarming. I want you to picture walking into your church on Sunday morning and thinking, for every hundred people in here, only four of us statistically have a Biblical worldview. Are you one of the four? You have to ask yourself this question. Ironically, most professing Christians have an atheistic/secular humanist worldview while at the same time claiming to believe in God. My hope through this next series is to help Christians get back to their first love, Christ, and possibly change your worldview.

What is a worldview? A world view is a way one views the whole world. It is our interpretation of the world and the things that happen in it. It is one's view of and for the world. It is compared to having glasses on. If you have red glasses on, you see the world as red. If you have blue glasses on, you see the world as blue. If you have on your Biblical glasses on, you see the world according to the Word of God. There are ten basic. Specifically, a worldview should contain a particular perspective regarding each of the following ten disciplines: theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics, and history. What I will try to do is touch on each of these areas. I will spend more time on certain areas than others. This is why I don't know how many parts there will be in this series, but, I do know this, it will be a long series.

There are six basic worldviews that have real influence in the world. They area/an: Christian, Islamic, Secular Humanist, Marxist, Cosmic Humanist, and Postmodernist worldview. Other worldviews exist, but they hold very little influence in the world. For example, Buddhism, Taoism or Hinduism may influence some Eastern countries, but hardly sway the entire world. The major ideas and belief systems controlling the world, and especially the West, are summed up in the following six worldviews. I will briefly overview them here.

The Christian Worldview

Many people, including many Christians, do not realize that the Bible addresses all ten disciplines of a worldview. Theology (The Study of God), philosophy (The Study of Knowledge), ethics (The Study of Morals), biology (The Study of Life), psychology (The Study of the Human Mind), sociology (The Study of Society), law (The Study of Rules), politics (The Study of Government) , economics (The Study of Finances), and history (The Study of Past Events) are all found in the Bible and the answers to life's most difficult questions are found within this worldview. Christians are the only ones who can sufficiently answer the four most commonly ask questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Why is there evil in the world? What can I do to fix it? Christianity can be summed up in Christ's claim that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is THE Creator, THE only Redeemer and THE only way to God. There is no other way. If you believe otherwise, you do not have a Biblical worldview. This is the foundation for the Christian worldview. This is what separates us from everyone else. We are to think and act as Christ would think and act. He was and is our example, our standard in which we are to live by.

Dr. David Noebel, President, Summit Ministries, says, “The study of worldviews in general, and the Christian worldview in particular, is a wake-up call for everyone. A country seeking to promote human rights (including the right to be born), liberty, and the common good must adhere to the only worldview that can account for our existence and dignity. We contend that human dignity comes from the fact that human beings are created in the image of God, a uniquely biblical perspective. Abandoning this perspective has dire consequences, considering the rise in abortions, homosexual practices, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and the move toward human cloning.”1

To be continued...

The Manhattan Declaration....My Two Cents

For what it's worth, I am going to put my two cents in on this argument. Some may agree, some may not. Although there are some very respected names on both sides, I would like to present to you this: these issues are problems, but none of these are the root cause of the problem, but are effects of the cause. We need to get to the root cause of these problems and that is the Gospel (or the lack thereof). Christ and Christ alone can cure these ailments. Am I saying we should sit here and do nothing? No. Am I saying that I do not agree with the declaration presented? No. Although I am in agreement with the document’s opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and other moral problems, the document does not get to the root cause of the matter: the lack of the Gospel.

Since they are rallying support, why not throw Muslims in there too. They do not agree with abortion, gay marriage and such. Here is the point. What is a declaration in this instance. It is a written agreement of intentions in which all signers are in agreement. In the opening statement on the website www.manhattandeclaration.org, it states:

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them.

First, let me premise this by saying, should we be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Anyone that preaches another gospel than that of Jesus, Peter, Paul, John and the like, is a heretic. Orthodox and Catholics preach another gospel. What fellowship does light have with darkness?

Second, some argue that it is not doctrine we are agreeing on so it is okay. Let me ask you this, if it were the KKK and the Church of Satan rallying for the same cause, would you join them? You might say that this is extreme, but let me ask you what is more extreme, joining these groups or joining arms with groups that disguise themselves as sheep when they are ravenous wolves?

Here is how they end they opening statement on the website:

We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Please tell me, is the Jesus the Orthodox and Catholics believe in the same as the Jesus you or I believe in? Again, its great that people want to eliminate gay marriage and abortion, but, what about the truth of the matter? This truth is the need for Christ! This is the only thing that can cure this land. The Gospel. Nothing more, nothing less. We need repentance, starting first with the church and it's abandonment of its first love.

We also need to tell others about Christ. It was the "Prince of Preachers," Charles Spurgeon, who said the words, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." Let me ask you, do you have a burden to see souls saved? Are you doing anything about it? If you want to see these problems eliminated, here is the only solution: the gospel. It starts with you! I challenge you to tell all you come into contact with the saving gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we are all sharing our faith as we are commanded, faithfully, then we can see the Lord move, but we have to be preparing for it.

It is best said in the movie Facing the Giants, when the coach is having a conversation with a prayer warrior and dear saint when this man tells the coach a story about two farmers in desperate need for rain. Only one is preparing his fields to receive the rain. Which one do you think is going to see rain? The one that is preparing for it! This is us saints! Are you preparing for rain, or are you sitting on the sidelines allowing everyone else to take your reward. It's time to prepare for rain!