Biblical Worldview

CoffeeSwirls · Oct 2, 2005

I am reading "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcy right now, and I must say that it is a fantastic book! It defines worldviews from the Greek two-level view that is still in use today and includes most of the incriments that lead to the Post Modern mind.

Can anyone suggest other worldview resources? This book helps explain why so many people don't see a pressing need for the gospel!

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

By "worldview" do you mean the philosophical concept of the Weltanschauung or something else? I'm not familiar with the Greek conceptualization of a worldview.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

StAnselm · Oct 2, 2005

That's classic, Jon. "When you say world-view, you mean Weltanschauung, right?"

I've never heard the request for an explanation go in that direction before.

Anyway, it doesn't mean so much a personal world-view - rather, it refers to the separation in Greek thought between the physical and the spiritual. Which (supposedly) has led to our dichotomy between sacred and secular. And what Schaeffer refers to the upper storey and the lower storey.

Actually, I'm getting a bit sick of this Greek-bashing.

ClementofRome · Oct 2, 2005

James Sire's, Naming the Elephant is a real piece of work. It not only goes into depth in the discussion of the concept of "worldview" and how "worldview" operates, but also goes into the history. Excellent book.

Also, Naugle's Worldview: The History of a Concept (awesome)
Also, Walsh and Middleton's The Transforming Vision
Also, Nash's Worldviews in Conflict
Also, Curtis' Transformed Thinking

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

StAnselm said:
That's classic, Jon. "When you say world-view, you mean Weltanschauung, right?"

I've never heard the request for an explanation go in that direction before.

I'm not sure if you're teasing or being serious.

StAnselm said:
Anyway, it doesn't mean so much a personal world-view - rather, it refers to the separation in Greek thought between the physical and the spiritual. Which (supposedly) has led to our dichotomy between sacred and secular. And what Schaeffer refers to the upper storey and the lower storey.

Are you talking about the distinction between Plato's World of Ideas and World of Forms? Or the gnostic dualism that teaches the spiritual is good and the physical is evil?

StAnselm said:
Actually, I'm getting a bit sick of this Greek-bashing.

Greek-bashing? Who's been bashing the Greeks?

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

calmcoolandelected · Oct 2, 2005

CoffeeSwirls said:
I am reading "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcy right now, and I must say that it is a fantastic book!

Wow! I just received my copy of "Total Truth" from Amazon yesterday. I also ordered "The Soul of Science" (also by Nancy Pearcy) to go with it.

There's Schaeffer's "How Shall We Then Live?", "The Universe Next Door" by James Sire, "Naming The Elephant: Worldview as a Concept" by James Sire, and "The Deadliest Monster" by J.F. Baldwin, "How To Be Your Own Selfish Pig" by Susan Schaeffer MacCauley.

CC&E

CoffeeSwirls · Oct 2, 2005

Pearcy studied under Schaeffer, so you will see many mentions of his work. And yes, the gnostic dualism is alive and well. Until we begin to incorporate the truth of a unified view, we will assume that the better Christians are those employed in a missions setting. I really can't say more, as I am only just a few chapters in, but Pearcy makes a compelling case!

StAnselm · Oct 2, 2005

Jon_ said:
I'm not sure if you're teasing or being serious.

Greek-bashing? Who's been bashing the Greeks?

Oh, everyone seems to be doing it these days. It's one of the key points in the emerging church philosophy - Hebrew thought, good; Greek thought, bad.

Are you talking about the distinction between Plato's World of Ideas and World of Forms? Or the gnostic dualism that teaches the spiritual is good and the physical is evil?

And that's kinda the problem - the two seem to get somewhat confused...

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

StAnselm said:
Oh, everyone seems to be doing it these days. It's one of the key points in the emerging church philosophy - Hebrew thought, good; Greek thought, bad.

Oh, I wasn't aware of this movement. My position is - Biblical thought, good; Secular thought, bad.

StAnselm said:
And that's kinda the problem - the two seem to get somewhat confused...

Now I'm confused!

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

StAnselm · Oct 2, 2005

Jon_ said:
My position is - Biblical thought, good; Secular thought, bad.

Is that so? But what about all these horrible Enlightenment ideas like logic and rationality? Are they biblical or secular?

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

StAnselm said:
Is that so? But what about all these horrible Enlightenment ideas like logic and rationality? Are they biblical or secular?

Biblical of course. Christ is the divine Logos, which, including word, is translated logic. God is a logical and rational being; therefore, logic and rationality are divine attributes. What do you think it means to be created in the image of God? Among other things, it means to be created a rational being.

These aren't "horrible Enlightenment ideas." The Enlightenment was simply secular aberrations upon biblical ideas.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

StAnselm · Oct 2, 2005

Jon_ said:
therefore, logic and rationality are divine attributes.

StAnselm · Oct 2, 2005

So getting back to the OP (and hopefully relieve Jon's confusion!) - if having a Greek world-view means being logic and rational, then I'm all for being Greek.

I guess I'm getting a bit sick of the postmodern junk I get from the emerging church people...

Cajun Huguenot · Oct 2, 2005

Jon_ said:
Oh, I wasn't aware of this movement. My position is - Biblical thought, good; Secular thought, bad.

Now I'm confused!

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

Tertullian said it best "For philosophy is the material of the worlds wisdom, the rash interpreter of the nature and dispensation of God. Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What has the Academy to do with the Church? "

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

Cajun Huguenot said:
Tertullian said it best "For philosophy is the material of the worlds wisdom, the rash interpreter of the nature and dispensation of God. Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What has the Academy to do with the Church? "

Ha, ha! Guess what, Kenith? I was just listening to a lecture by John Robbins and he mentioned the exact same quote. Maybe you're starting to come over to his side?

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

Jon_ · Oct 2, 2005

StAnselm said:
So getting back to the OP (and hopefully relieve Jon's confusion!) - if having a Greek world-view means being logic and rational, then I'm all for being Greek.

I guess I'm getting a bit sick of the postmodern junk I get from the emerging church people...

Oooh, that's what you meant!? Man, in that case, I'm all for being Greek!

I too am fed up with this postmodern garbage that is polluting the minds of Christians today. I cringe everytime I hear someone approve of Kierkegaard, Hegel, or Schleiermacher. These men did more to damage the Bible than any outright atheist ever did.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

CoffeeSwirls · Oct 3, 2005

The gnosticism mentioned is one that compartmentalizes your faith into a personal "bubble" of who you are regarding your values. Since this is your own personal values, it is supposed to have no effect on how you approach your life in the public arena. It is this two-tier structure that is attacked, as it has had a long history of promoting heresy.

So, how does one perform their job as a (insert occupation here) to the glory of God when that job is in the secular world? How do you live your life in such a way that your faith is neither compartmentalized or cheapened? This is the focus of the book that I am anticipating, though I haven't gotten that far and could be wrong.

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