Four Main Worldviews
Worldviews
 worldview – a way of thinking, feeling and acting
about life
 a secular (or non-religious) view evolved from
historical movements
Cosmocentric worldview – “nature, universe centred”
 nature is alive with spirit
 all life is dependent on nature, environment
 everything is part of a web of life
 Paganism, aboriginal spirituality/communities have
this view
 Eastern traditions – everything is connected
(past/present, community (individualism is not a
priority), karma, dharma) – animal rights
Theocentric worldview – “God centred”
 life comes from a loving, wise, all-powerful God
 life’s purpose is to know God
 People are created in God’s image and we are co-
creators
 Society needs values that benefit all creation; and are
pleasing to God (Golden rule, natural law)
 all religions fit into this worldview in some way
Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred”
 human lives and communities are central
 modern worldviews, including most religious ones
=anthropocentric
 e.g. humanism – humans have worth and freedom
(combines with both secular and religious values) – based
on Greek and Roman thought “reborn” in the Renaissance
 Respect, knowledge, free will are key to improving world
 The best human creations/values lead to the common
good
Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred”
 Western religions fit the anthropocentric view:
 Charity is highly regarded/obligatory (tzedakah, zakat,
corporal works of mercy)
 Ethic of Reciprocity (Golden Rule)
 Views correspond with laws of gov’ts
 Community relationships, worship– different view
than Indian religions
 Scripture-based religions – knowledge, religious
education a high priority
Secular worldview
 secular means “time” or “age” – believes in the values of
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the present time, no concern for eternity
actively opposed to religion – think it denies humans’
power
there is no divine creator or purpose – nothing is sacred
emphasis on progress of society and economics
nature is only matter - meets human needs
humans are self-sufficient - no need for God
values are created by humans and are relative – no
absolute right/wrong
Some of the backstory…
“The next 10 years will be very unlike the last 10 years”
How did secularism arise?
 Scientific discovery (Copernicus, Newton, Galileo)–
late 15th c., navigation, math, astronomy – challenged
previously-held religious beliefs
 Printing press – new theories spread rapidly
 Deism – “clock and clockmaker”
 The Enlightenment – 17th-18th c., rationalism
(universe could be understood without religion)
Voltaire – Deist, believed religion was superstitious,
held humans back
How did secularism arise?
 Skepticism toward religion arose in this period
 Industrial revolution – 18th-19th c. – led to
urbanization (move to cities - loss of connection to nature)
 Atheistic views – arose in the 19th c, attacked the
theocentric view as a creation of the human mind
 Karl Marx – witnessed oppression of class system,
called religion the “opiate of the masses” – kept the
poor ignorant and submissive. Writings borrowed
from his Jewish heritage. Introduced communism.
How did secularism arise?
 Friedrich Nietzsche – saw religion as immature,
keeping people weak. “God is dead”
 Sigmund Freud – studied human psyche, concluded
that religion is based on a childish need to obey
(“father figure”).
 Charles Darwin – made no statements about
religion, but his theory of evolution was seen a
challenge to religion – saw God as “the ultimate
lawgiver” – qualified the survival of the fittest
Responses to Secularism
 Three modern developments have come out of the
pushing aside of traditional worldviews:
 dominance of secular culture (3 defining features)
 reaction of religious fundamentalism
 rise of cults, sects, new age mov’ts.
3 defining features of the secular view
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values of secularism at its worst are (Trafford, pp 33-35):
Individualism
self over all others – competition, less compassion, common good?
needs are met at expense of others’ needs - survival of the fittest
Consumerism
personal appearance and material goods are most important
objects provide status, happiness and worth
instant gratification, leisure time spent shopping.
creates poverty, environmental destruction, self-absorption,
meaninglessness
Moral relativism
No absolute morals
Responsibility and duty are not values worth considering -success is the
measure
apply this to sexuality, technology, social justice, peace
Consumerism – “the story of stuff” and “the high price of materialism”
 Cultural Dimension (me or we)