The Importance of Constructing a Worldview Statement

In psychology this week, we are studying the importance of having a clear worldview through which we can filter the ideas presented to us.

A worldview is the construct of how you view life, your basic assumptions, your foundational beliefs, your conceptual framework for answering the big questions of life, the construct or framework of your faith. Everyone has one:  Christians, agnostics, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, deists, psychologists, philosophers, politicians, etc.

People operate under the assumptions of their worldviews every day; however, many have not taken the time to think through this mindmap in concrete ways so that it can be a useful filter for them. They are prone to being deceived because they are not sure of their mind on various challenging topics. They cannot defend their beliefs.

A worldview is a system of CORE attitudes, beliefs, and values. If one develops a well-thought-through statement of belief, it will guide one through many miry mounds of knowledge, enabling the sorting and keeping and tossing of ideas.

Your worldview is active and changeable. It morphs as your mind changes with the influx of new information that you assimilate into your belief system.

A Christian worldview is supposed to be a biblically based worldview, wherein all fundamental assumptions are derived from the absolute Truth of the inspired Word of God. The Word of God reveals Truth to us. "Truth is not merely a person preference. It is objective and absolute and can be diligently searched out" (Tim Rice, Homeschool Psych, p. 11). Then, it is up to us to modify our worldview to match God's revealed Truth. It is when we do this that we stand on the firmest ground theologically, relationally with God, and mentally/emotionally/behaviorally.

There are 5 major questions wherein psychology and the Christian worldview definitely intersect:
*What do you believe about God?
*What is the nature of Mankind?
*How can we know things with certainty?
*Are there moral absolutes?
*What are the causes of and the cures for abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?

Our answers to these 5 crucial questions affect how we handle all the pitfalls of life.

So...they had better be good ones.

It reminds me of our pastor telling us that any set of religious ideas he is presented with had better provide him an answer for death because that one is coming for us all.  (I thought that was a very insightful view through which to funnel the stability of claims thrown out there for us to ponder.)

The author of our textbook, Tim Rice, D. Min., LPC, is so convinced of the value of intentionally formulating your worldview into a coherent explanation that he offers this caveat:

"Stop Reading. Do not keep reading until you are clear about your Christian worldview. Remember, the Christian worldview is Truth, but we can not prove it with science. It is important to remember that EVERYONE'S WORLDVIEW IS A MATTER OF FAITH and no one's worldview is ultimately a matter of science. The foundational beliefs of a Christian worldview, of an atheist's worldview, of a psychology professor's worldview are matters of faith and philosophy and not of data and science.  In the next chapter we will explore psychology's history by examining its philosophies and assumptions" (Tim Rice, Homeschool Psych, p. 12).

So...I guess I had better get to work!

Z