Our Christian World View

Overview

This series of the Bible Institute will address a comparison of the Christian world view and other world views, both religious and secular.  Mark Keller will be presenting.

These sessions are held weekly on Tuesdays, from 7pm to 8pm beginning September 9, 2008.  There are twelve sessions planned in all.

Class Syllabus

Texts

Primary Text: Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 4th Ed., InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Secondary Text: Eckman, James P. The Truth About Worldviews: A Biblical Understanding of Worldview Alternatives. Crossway Books, 2004.

Part 1:  Introduction

What is a worldview?  What are the basic elements of a worldview?  How does a worldview differ from theological doctrine?  [Sire: ch.1.]  Read this article for an interesting perspective on world views from the 2008 presidential race.

Podcast Session Outline

Part 2:  Christian Theism

How does this Christian Theism answer the basic worldview questions?  What is the difference between having a Christian Theistic worldview and having saving faith in Jesus Christ?  [Sire: ch.2.]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 3:  Christian Theism (continued)

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Part 4:  Deism

How does Deism answer the basic worldview questions?  How does Deism differ from Christian Theism?  How has Deism affected the culture of the United States?  [Sire: ch.3.]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 5:  Naturalism

Also known as Modernism or Secular Humanism.  How does Naturalism answer the basic worldview questions?  Contrast Naturalism with Christian Theism.  Note the pervasiveness of Naturalism in modern western culture.  Note its inconsistencies, especially as to ethics.  [Sire: ch.4; Eckman: ch.2.]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 6:  Naturalism (continued)

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Part 7:  Nihilism and Existentialism

Nihilism is the logical conclusion to Naturalism.  Existentialism is a worldview developed in response to nihilism.  How does Existentialism answer the basic worldview questions?  [Sire: chs.5-6.]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 8:  Postmodernism

How does Postmodernism answer the basic worldview questions?  What is truth?  Examine the inherent contradictions of Postmodernism.  Note the pervasiveness of Postmodernism in 21st Century culture.  [Sire: ch.9]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 9:  Eastern Worldviews

Hinduism, Buddhism, and pantheistic monism.  How do Eastern worldviews answer the basic worldview questions?  Examine the fundamentally different ways of eastern thinking relative to western worldviews.  Growing influence of these worldviews as Asian importance grows.  [Sire: ch.7; Eckman: chs.3-4]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 10:  New Age

Not so much a worldview as an amalgam of worldviews (eastern and western). Note its pervasiveness in western pop culture, creeping into mainstream culture. [Sire: ch.8; Eckman: ch.9]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 11:  Islam

How does Islam answer the basic worldview questions?  Not just a different type of Christian Theism, it is a fundamentally different form of theism.  Examine why this worldview is both fear-driven and has a history of violent proselytization.  Note differences between Sunni and Shia sects.  [Eckman: ch.8; Handouts]

Podcast Session Outline

Part 12:  Reprise of Christian Theism

Compare and contrast the worldviews prevalent within the major sectors of Christendom: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Mainline Protestantism, and Evangelical Protestantism. [Eckman: ch.11]

Podcast Session Outline