Worldview Research Paper

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Virginia Commonwealth University *

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Religion

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Dec 6, 2023

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1 Worldview Research Paper I. What is a worldview? A worldview is the manner in which someone views their experiences and their existence. Everyone on the entire planet has a worldview of some kind, whether it be religious or not. Some people have the worldview that the outcome of their life is all based on fate or the universe, that life is all up to chance and humans arose out of evolution. They would view the things and circumstance surrounding them as nothing but coincidence. Christians hold their identity in the Lord and the inherent value that is given to them in the bible. A person’s worldview is one of the most important influencers on how they act and respond to situations. Philip Ryken says that the Church, “cannot be said truly to have a Christian view of the world unless what [they] love as well as what [they] think is directed to the glory of God, and unless this is readily apparent in the way [they] live in the world,” (Ryken, 2013). Overall, worldview largely determines how active a role someone plays in their own life’s course as well as the morality they live by. Word count: 187 II. Biblical/Christian Worldview 1. The Question of Origin (How did life begin? How did mankind come into existence?) The biblical worldview is that human life began when God created man and put him in a garden to rule over the animals and tend to the plants (Genesis 1:27). God molded the first man from the dust and breathed into him and then after noticing he was lonely, created a woman from the rib of the sleeping man (Genesis 2:7). The man

2 and woman were instructed to be “fruitful and increase in number” and that is how man came to inhabit the earth (New International Version, 2002). 2. The Question of Identity (What does it mean to be human? Are humans more important than animals?) God very clearly states in the bible that man is made in his image, and so to be human means to be made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Additionally, being human means being an inherently sinful and broken due to the distance put between God and humanity. Humanity is irredeemable in the eyes of God but because the Lord desired community with His fallen creation, he sent a sacrifice to atone for the sins of man. Humans are more important than animals because God created the animals for the use of man (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 1:30). Humans are also more important than animals because, “humans have souls and animals don't, and humans have reason and animals don't,” (BBC, 2009). 3. The Question of Meaning/Purpose (Why does mankind exist? Why do I exist?) The sole purpose of man is to glorify God. In Isaiah 43:7 God says that his people are “created for [His] glory,” and thus is the purpose of mankind (New International Version, 2002). God gives lots of other commandments but glorifying the Lord can be summed up in the command love God and to love people (Matthew 22:37-40). Rev. Dr. Rob Schenck wrote that, “ It is the very depth of God’s character to love, and as believers, our character must reflect God’s character” (Schenck 2017). 4. The Question of Morality (What is meant by right and wrong? How should I live?) When humanity strayed from God after the first initial sin in the Garden of Eden, sin became a part of the everyday nature of life. God had to help people discern what was

3 right and wrong, so he gave the Ten Commandments to help lead them (Exodus 20:2- 17). Additionally, God gives lots of instructions for living in the Bible, especially in the books of Proverbs, the gospels (normally illustrated through parables) and Paul’s letters to the ancient churches. Finally, after Jesus’s death and resurrection, God gave the Church “a helper,” otherwise called the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit nudges people toward the correct decisions and helps by interceding on their behalf. It is included in the Bible that the church “should live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which [they] had been called,” in Ephesians 4:1, and that’s summarizes most of the life questions about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ 5. The Question of Destiny (Is there life after death? What will happen to me when I die?) Christians live in the hope of Jesus Christ and that their souls will not die after their earthly body does. God sent his son Jesus down to earth to be wrapped in flesh and take the place of all of humanity on the cross. Because Jesus died an earthly, sacrificial, unjustified death, and then rose from the grave three days leader, death has been conquered (John 3:16). Christians believe the key to eternal life is confession of sinfulness, acknowledgement of Jesus rising from the dead, and proclaiming the name of God (Romans 10:9) Word count: 539 (not including questions)

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4 References BBC. (2009, August 3). Religions - christianity: Animal rights . https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/christianethics/animals_1.shtml. Reinke, T. (2021, February 28). Why do i exist? https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-do-i- exist. Ryken, P. G. (2013). Christian worldview: a student's guide . Crossway. https://doi.org/https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com Schenck, R. D. R. (2017, August 22). Love god and love others . https://tdbi.org/devotionals/love- god-love-others/. Zondervan NIV Study Bible (K. L. Barker, Ed.; Full rev. ed.). (2002). Zondervan.

Worldview Research Paper

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