Central to a person’s beliefs and actions lies their worldview. That is, what a person views as real, true, and of value will dictate how a person acts, responds, and views others. More than this, a person’s views in these areas will determine what that person gives his or her attention to and what that person avoids. Whether or not we take the time to analyze each of our beliefs and to determine whether they complement our other beliefs, we have a worldview and act based upon our worldview. Thus, it is important for Christian educators (or really all Christians) to examine their own worldview and ensure that their worldview is based on truth and not on relativity. The main aspects of worldview include our views of reality, truth, ethics, and
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Many modern educational philosophies consistently reject the absolute truths of the traditional philosophic teachings of Plato and Aristotle. Thus, these modern philosophies believe that truth is relative and based on the changing opinions of the masses (pragmatism) or the perspectives of each individual (existentialism). Each of these views fails to recognize the absolute truths found in the order and structure of the universe. Many people who consider themselves Christians also believe that truth is relative to certain situations. They argue that much time has passed since the Bible was written, so a lot of what was written does not apply. Instead, they claim, we should understand the context of the Bible and apply only what fits into our current context. This relativistic interpretation of the Bible is harmful in many ways. As fallen beings, when we interpret the Bible to benefit ourselves or to uplift our actions, we take away the original intention of the Bible and individualize the message to our own lives. Then, Christianity becomes all about ourselves and not about God and has the tendency to reject the communal aspect of Christianity. Thus, Christian educators must understand that truth is rooted in scripture and is absolute and must teach with this mindset. Without doing so, educators will encourage a watered-down faith and will increase the relativistic tendencies of Western culture. Again, as …show more content…
Each of the areas (reality, truth, and values) is intimately connected to the other areas. Thus, one’s beliefs in each area is the basis of the other areas but is also based on one’s beliefs in the other areas. Whether we realize it or not, our worldview lies at the core of who we are. Everything we say, do, and do not do is based on our worldview. Understanding our own worldview is not simply understanding our answers to various questions about existence and truth. Instead, understanding our worldview is an active response to being created in the image of God. After all, God is the basis of all that is:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
Many modern educational philosophies consistently reject the absolute truths of the traditional philosophic teachings of Plato and Aristotle. Thus, these modern philosophies believe that truth is relative and based on the changing opinions of the masses (pragmatism) or the perspectives of each individual (existentialism). Each of these views fails to recognize the absolute truths found in the order and structure of the universe. Many people who consider themselves Christians also believe that truth is relative to certain situations. They argue that much time has passed since the Bible was written, so a lot of what was written does not apply. Instead, they claim, we should understand the context of the Bible and apply only what fits into our current context. This relativistic interpretation of the Bible is harmful in many ways. As fallen beings, when we interpret the Bible to benefit ourselves or to uplift our actions, we take away the original intention of the Bible and individualize the message to our own lives. Then, Christianity becomes all about ourselves and not about God and has the tendency to reject the communal aspect of Christianity. Thus, Christian educators must understand that truth is rooted in scripture and is absolute and must teach with this mindset. Without doing so, educators will encourage a watered-down faith and will increase the relativistic tendencies of Western culture. Again, as …show more content…
Each of the areas (reality, truth, and values) is intimately connected to the other areas. Thus, one’s beliefs in each area is the basis of the other areas but is also based on one’s beliefs in the other areas. Whether we realize it or not, our worldview lies at the core of who we are. Everything we say, do, and do not do is based on our worldview. Understanding our own worldview is not simply understanding our answers to various questions about existence and truth. Instead, understanding our worldview is an active response to being created in the image of God. After all, God is the basis of all that is:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome