Ten Ways to Look at the World - Feb. 26 @ 9_05 am
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Apr 3, 2024
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Ten Ways to Look at the World
Lauren Weber
Colorado Christian University
PHIL-205A
Efrain Quintana
February 25, 2024
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Ten Ways to Look at the World
The "Ten Ways to Look at the World" concept offers an integrated approach to understanding the world's details, drawing from theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics, and history. While this comprehensive method offers valuable insights and viewpoints, it does have limits, such as oversimplification, contradictory interpretations, and issues integrating disparate fields. Myers and Noebel's "Ten Ways of Looking at the World" outlines fundamental concerns about life, morality, and society. The video "What is Worldview?" shows that a worldview is how we see our surroundings. How do we find purpose in our lives as they unfold before us? “Worldview, as the word suggests, is how we look at the world around us. How do we understand life as it hits us in the face?” (CAGS
Development & Parker, 2021, at section 0.06-0.11 seconds). The following paragraphs identify the ten most influential factors shaping a person's worldview.
Theology explores the nature of God. It seeks to answer questions like "Who is God?" and "How did everything come into existence?" Theology explores faith, divine purpose, and the
ultimate reality. "The theologians say knowing about God's nature and character is the key to figuring out what is the most important in life.” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 15 ). In section nine of Chapter 8, the authors claim, "Because of particular revelation in the Bible, Christians perceive God to be a knowable, relatable, self-aware person.” They continue by quoting scripture
from Isaiah 44:6, “God said, ‘I am the first, and I am the last, besides me, there is no god’” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 187). The writers define these notions as "theism," which is the belief
in the presence of a deity or gods. Pantheism is the idea that everything in the cosmos is essentially divine. And atheism is the conviction that God does not exist (Myers & Noebel, 2015,
p. 174). The authors also discuss genetic information, quoting Francis Collins: "DNA can be
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thought of metaphorically as the language of God" (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 186). In section nine of Chapter 8, the authors claim, "Because of particular revelation in the Bible, Christians perceive God to be a knowable, relatable, self-aware person” and they continue by quoting scripture from Isaiah 44:6, “God said, ‘I am the first and I am the last, beside me there is no god”
(Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 187).
Philosophy is the love of wisdom. It examines fundamental concepts such as truth, knowledge, and existence. Philosophers ponder questions like "What is the meaning of life?" and
"How do we know what we know?" What is love of wisdom? According to the authors, philosophers "explain their way of thinking" by asking questions about metaphysics, epistemology, and the mind-body relationship (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 200-201). With these issues in mind, the writers of our work explore six worldviews that "approach these questions somewhat differently." (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 201) The writers remind us that "Historically,
Christianity and philosophy have been close friends" (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 215) and "we humans have a sense of mindfulness." we intuitively recognize that mental experiences are necessary to understand the physical world, but yet are not part of the physical world itself” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 219).
Ethics deals with moral principles and the "good life." It asks questions like "What is right and wrong?" and "How should we live?" Ethical frameworks guide our behavior and decision-making. What characterizes a good life? A good life is relative to each person, regardless of circumstances, and depends on how they see their condition at any given time. “People with discernment can see the relationship between all the pieces of information they are trying to process at any given moment. If they are thoughtful about spiritual things, this capacity
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will enable them to better understand God, the world, and their relationship to God and the world” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 5).
In the context of worldviews, biology explores what the natural world reveals about creation. It considers questions related to life's origins, evolution, and the intricate design of living organisms. What does the natural world tell us about creation? From a Christian viewpoint, the authors write, “We argue that the concept of a living God creating life fits the evidence better than spontaneous generation and macroevolution” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p.18). A question in support of this theory could be: Was God perhaps creating the ‘Big Bang theory’ that led to evolution? I feel this idea should leave one to ponder the thought.
Psychology investigates what makes a human being a person. It explores the mind, emotions, consciousness, and behavior. Questions include: What defines our identity? And How do we understand human nature? The authors bring up the point that “...most creatures are unreflective, that is, they don’t contemplate or communicate about their plans for the future, nor do they appear to feel regret or shame over their past actions” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 16). These distinctions make humans people and separate us from other living things.
Sociology examines how we should live in a community. It studies social structures, institutions, and human interactions. Questions revolve around social norms, justice, and the dynamics of groups. How should we live in the community? To maintain a cohesive community,
its members must uphold their duty to consider the factors contributing to its diversity. Myers & Noebel write, “To really understand how we can live together in community, we ought to have some insight into our various cultures, languages, religious beliefs, and historical challenges” (Myers & Noebel, 2015).
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Law addresses what constitutes a just law. It explores legal systems, rights, and responsibilities. Questions include "How do we create fair and equitable laws?" and "What principles guide legal decisions?" What constitutes a just law? As the authors remind us, “God made the rules. To bear his image well, we should try to understand them, discern the patterns they create, and live differently as a result” (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 4). In the judicial system, the purpose of a just law is to prevent and protect every person from harm.
Politics deals with the distribution of power. It inquires, "In whom should authority rest?"
Political worldviews influence government, legislation, and social institutions. Questions involve
democracy, authority, and governing methods. Who should have power? This is an open-ended question with several options to explore. In a democratic republic, Americans have the right to choose people in positions of authority. The authors continue, "Properly conceived, politics offers a platform from which to encourage virtue, and virtue is at the heart of good government" (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 17).
Economics examines how a society should be prosperous. It looks at wealth, resources, commerce, and economic systems. The question is, "How do we allocate resources?" "What economic principles lead to prosperity?” and "How should society be effective?" The writers remind readers, "God put Adam in the garden to work it and keep it. That's economics" (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 19). Using this analogy, our entire existence or life is our "garden," to be fruitful, we must plant and sow the seeds of this garden to harvest the benefits of life's blessings. Economics is more than money and the sale of products; it is also about the ordinary, everyday activities we engage in.
Finally, history looks at how the past influences future human prosperity. It examines events, cultures, and their effects on society. These include questions such as "What lessons can
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we learn from history?" and "How does our past shape our present and future?". The authors conclude, "What happened in the past might help us understand what we should do now. How do
we replicate successful judgments while avoiding bad ones?" (Myers & Noebel, 2015, p. 17). A person can reflect and learn from the past but should not dwell on it.
These ten views provide an intricate framework for comprehending the world, and each adds to our overall knowledge of life and purpose. A worldview is an individual's view influenced by the setting in which a person lives. Religious beliefs, previous experiences, and current events impact a person's worldview and serve as the foundation. “A worldview is like a lens in which you see things. And you’re not really aware of the lens, you’re only aware of the things you see” (CAGS Development & Parker, 2021).
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References
CAGS Development & Parker, S. (2021, December 22). What is a WorldView?
[video]. Colorado Christian University. https://mediaspace.ccu.edu/media/Fill+out+Assessment+in+Word/1_2eqnxjxb
Myers, J., & Noebel, D. A. (2015). Understanding the times: A survey of competing worldviews
(1st ed.). David C Cook.