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Humes 1
Liberty University
What is a Worldview?
RLGN104-B32: Christian Life and Biblical Worldview
Professor Tattrie
26 February 2024
Humes 2
What is a Worldview? – MLA
When you think of the word “Worldview”, what tends to come to mind? My first instinct when I first thought of the term “worldview” was religion and seeing life in a different perspective. In the Bible, it is made clear that we are to build a Christian worldview. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This verse illustrates not to follow the world’s pattern and instead reopen our minds. According to Ed Hinson, the term “worldview” has been used to describe a person’s standpoint of life. Everybody has a worldview that impacts their actions and beliefs. “The term “worldview” has commonly been used to describe a person’s perspective on life. Every person has a worldview that influences his or her beliefs and actions. A worldview has also been described as the glasses through which a person sees life.” (Hindson 1) In other words, when studying worldviews, it helps us to be able to better understand other individuals who do not hold a biblical worldview. It helps us to better communicate our faiths and beliefs to others. What is the origin of the universe, you might ask. Well, according to the textbook Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World
by Lew Weider and Ben Gutierrez, it is stated that, “the God of Delusion also propose the idea that God is not necessary for life or morals, and the answers to mankind’s existence is only found through nature itself” (Weider and Gutierrez 65). Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Throughout the book of
Humes 3
Genesis, it illustrates to us how humans were created, it also tells us that God created the heavens
and the earth.
When we think of the word human, we tend to think of a person. A person with a face and a body; that can breathe air and has blood pumping through their veins. “First, Adam and Eve sinned in act when they ate the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). We are told that “their eyes were opened” — a change had occurred inwardly. Second, they covered their nakedness because now they “knew” good and evil experientially” (Caluson). Many Christians tend to believe that because God has created both Adam and Eve, he then created the humans. Now, when referring to animals, God has made it clear that animals are not as important as humans. Genesis 9:2-3 state, “The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.
Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
An individual’s purpose and cause are often viewed in their capacity and have an effect on others and the world around them. In other words, when talking about meaning/purpose, Christians are supposed to fulfill God’s plan. There are things God wants us to respect and do, such as the 10 commandments. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, God is talking about the purpose of mankind. He is informing us that we should fear God himself and obey the commandments. When referring to the word “fear”, we do not fear God himself, but it also a reference to giving respect for the Lord. Referring to the question of morality or ethics, I believe there is no right or wrong answer
for Christianity. If I was asked about my morality coming from a Christian standpoint, I would
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Humes 4
tell you what I was raised upon. Now, if you decide to ask me to tell my version, then I would explain what I believe is right or wrong. Talking about the Bible, it has many different versions and people tend to believe in different ways. Now when we are talking about right and wrong, it’s all opinion based. In Romans 13: 8-10, it is made clear that we should live through faith and love one another. What happens after we die? Nobody truly can answer this question but God. The Bible states that when we die, our spirit goes on to be with the Lord. Ecclesiates 12:7, tells us exactly what happens to our bodies as soon as we pass. Meanwhile, Christians believe in both heaven and hell. Revelation 20: 12-15 is informing us that there is both a heaven and a hell. It shows us that individuals will be destroyed and cease to exist. When referring to Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), the question of origin was back around the year 1500 B.C. Hinduism started as a polytheistic religion, meaning they believed in more than one God. The Hinduism ceremonies started pretty simple at first and then became a little bit more significant. “The rituals were at first simple enough that
they could be performed by the head of the household… During this time, the Vedas were
written to give the priests instructions as to how to perform the rituals” (Halverson). The Vedas are scriptures and were also referred to as the Upanishads, which are Hindu and are
also similar to the New Testament. Now, Hinduism came into effect by the Cosmic man, Purusha. He was sacrificed by the Gods, to produce humans.
Humes 5
Being a Hindu human aims for four things. “In contemporary studies of Hinduism, the four “aims of humanity,” or purusarthas, namely, virtue, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, are regularly said to be among the foundational and unifying concepts of Hinduism and Hindu identity” (Davis). Hindus are kind of sacred when referring to animals. Some animals are more appreciated than human life. Hindus do praise some animals and birds, such as cobras, apes, peacocks, and cows. Hindus also do not use both animals and humans for sacrifice. As previously stated, Hinduism tends to aim for four things. They aim for Dharma,
Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Dharma is to act ethically throughout another’s life. Dharma covers every aspect of life. Dharma also has another meaning; meaning since Hindus believe they are born into gratitude of the Gods and other humans; Dharma informs Hindus to repay this debt. Artha refers to the pursuit of wealth and prosperity. It also looks out for others' material and social needs. Kama means to obtain enjoyment from life, such as pleasure seeking. Moksha is the most important out of the four, it offers things like reincarnation and enlightenment. It also refers to freedom from travails.
Hindus obey the Vedas, which is their scripture. The Vades are just like our Bible, but of course, they have a different meaning. It tells them everything they should do. The Vedas are the oldest scripture in Hinduism. It guides them to do right and tells them what not to do wrong. “The Vedas and Upanishads are poignant and essential texts within Hindu culture and tradition. They provide an insight into the teachings of Hinduism and offer a comprehensive understanding of Hindu philosophy and ritual” (Simpson).
Humes 6
Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma. When a person of Hinduism passes away, they believe their soul leaves the body and goes back into the elements. With reincarnation, Hindus believe that they can come back to a living organism based on their
previous life. Since Hindus believe in karma, they also think it affects their afterlife. They believe that after death, their soul is determined by karma. According to Hindus, there are three different types of karma. There is Kriyaman karma, Prarabdha karma, and Sanchita karma. Kriyaman karma, are actions performed in the current life. Prarabdha karma affects what has already been done, and lastly, Sanchita karma is all of the past karma that occurs within a lifetime.
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Humes 7
Works Cited:
Hinson, Ed.
Everyday Biblical Worldview Exploring the Christian Faith
.
Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic
, 2016.
BibleGateway,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Romans+12%3A2&version=NIV. Accessed 23 January 2024.
(
New International Version (NIV)
)
Weider, Lew, and Ben Gutierrez.
Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World
.
B & H Academic
, 2000. p. 65.
Caluson, Marc A. "Human Nature and the Christians."
Digitalcommons.Cedarville.Edu
, digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1164&context=history_and_government_publications.
Halverson, Dean. "Hinduism – The Traveling Team."
Thetravelingteam.Org
, www.thetravelingteam.org/articles/hinduism-overview
.
Humes 8
Davis, Donald R. “Being Hindu or Being Human: A Reappraisal of the Puru ārthas.”
ṣ
International Journal of Hindu Studies
, vol. 8, no. 1/3, 2004, pp. 1–27.
JSTOR
,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20106881. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024. Romano, Donnamarie. "Hinduism."
Qcc.Cuny.Edu
, www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/PHIL_of_RELIGION_TEXT/CHA
PTER_2_RELIGIONS/Hinduism.htm
. Rochford, James M. "Comparing Hinduism with Christianity | Evidence Unseen."
Evidence Unseen.Com
, www.evidenceunseen.com/world-religions/hinduism/comparing-hinduism-with-
christianity/
. Srivastava, Chhitij et al. “Morality and moral development: Traditional Hindu concepts.”
Indian journal of psychiatry
vol. 55,Suppl 2 (2013): S283-7. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.105552 Sivakumar, Akhilesh. "The Meaning Of Life According to Hinduism | Philosophy 1100H Blog."
U.Osu.Edu
, 12 Oct. 2014, u.osu.edu/group5/2014/10/12/the-meaning-of-life-according-to-hinduism/.
Humes 9
Simpson, Daniel. "Vedas & Upanishads Online Course | Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies."
Ochsonline.Org
, ochsonline.org/course/vedas-upanishads/. Hedrick, William P. "The Worldviews of Hinduism and the Christian Believer."
Digitalcommons.Liberty.Edu
, digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1035&context=honors.
"What Is Karma?"
Hinduamerican.Org
, www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KarmaMokshaandSams
ara2.0_0.pdf.
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