Comparison of world views in the universe next door - Essay Example

Comparison of World Views in The Universe Next Door To think intelligently today is to think worlviewishly, to come to terms with the mosaic of meaning systems, which make up modern thinking. --OS Guinness (Sire, 2004, Backcover) The Universe Next Door by James W. Sire is a manual clarifying the fundamentals of a number of worldviews, many currently still in existence as well as a few that have been lost. James Sire touches upon the world views of Christian theism, deism, naturalism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern pantheistic monism, New Age philosophy postmodernism. Due to the categorical nature of the descriptions of these systems of belief, The Universe Next Door can be thought of as a catalog of various worldviews. The book begins by explaining Christian Theism. Christian Theism has its roots back to the seventeenth century and continues to be prevailing even today. The book then progresses to shoe how ensuing world views, including naturalism, deism, nihilism and existentialism, have developed from Christian Theism and where they have deviated. Sire also sheds light upon their weaknesses and where they have failed. The book further discusses how Eastern Pantheism and post modernism have affected western culture and its world views. The book is written as sort of a manual that will help Christians understand why they hold the views they do. Sire believes that knowing one’s own views is of great significance. Thus, right in the beginning, the author clearly highlights the prerequisite for being “fully conscious intellectually”, which is to be fully aware of one’s own worldview and to know exactly why one holds that view despite so many other views that surround one. What is a Worldview? James Sire declares that “A world view is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world” (p. 16). From Sire’s definition we see that the ‘world view’ has a set of essential points that distinguish it. Firstly, in a world view an idea or concept or thought is presupposed, assumed or implicitly understood. This implies that people holding a world view have laid faith or belief upon something that has led them to presuppose this idea or concept or thought. Secondly, these views are about something that people believe to be reality, that is, our world. In a sense, a world view is a belief about the reality of the world in which a person lives. Thirdly, these assumptions are held either consciously or sub-consciously but are influenced by something external to the person. A few more important points connected to ‘world views’ include the fact that a person holds either one view or the other. At any given time, a person does not hold more than one view of the reality of the world and life. In terms of world views people seek absolutes or complete explanations, whether they are aware of this search or not. An extension of this point is that at any given time, a person will hold only one of two (or more) opposing views. At any given time, a person assumes only one explanation to explain reality. A person will never hold two opposing or contradictory views about the world he or she lives in. Christian Theism, Deism, Nihilism and Existentialism While Sire has listed a number of world views in his book, this paper will compare the world views held by Christian Theism to those held by Deism, Nihilism and Existentialism. Christian Theism, as mentioned previously, was dominant in the seventeenth century and is still reigning today as a popular belief system or world view. Theism means to believe in God who is actively involved in upholding and maintaining the Universe. Christian Theism is the belief that the Christian God is the maintainer of the Universe. While a few disputes within Christian Theism are apparent, it is one of the most widespread views in the world. Deism was a strongly dominant religion in the eighteenth century, however, it is now all but just lost. The Deist holds the view that there is a God, but that after creating the Universe, God does not intervene in the Universe and its workings. The Deist believes that reason and rationality guides the universe. Clearly, Deism differs from Christian Theism in that one holds the view that God is impersonal and doe not arbitrate the Universe’s affairs and that in the other that God actively maintains the Universe. Nihilism is a world view that has come into existence fairly recently. Nihilists believe that life is without purpose and absurd. Sire describes nihilism as, “Strictly speaking, nihilism is not a philosophy at all. It is a denial of philosophy, a denial of the possibility of knowledge, a denial that anything is valuable” (p. 38). Existentialism is somewhat like nihilism in that existentialist also believes that humans are living in an absurd, purpose-less Universe. They are of the view that humans were simply thrown into existence and that there is no fundamental truth to be striven for. Existentialism does hold the view that although order and meaning are not prerequisites to life they can, however, be generated by human actions and interpretations of their experiences. Humans can make their own purpose by being. Important Questions As pointed out by Sire, there is a set of important questions that must be answered when dealing with any world view. These questions are as follows as presented by the author of the masterpiece The Universe Next Door on pages 17-18: 1. What is the prime reality? 2. What is the nature of external reality the world around us? 3. What is a human being? 4. What happens to a person at death? 5. Why is it possible to know anything at all? 6. How do we know what is right or wrong? 7. What is meaning of human history? The answers to these questions with regard to Christian Theism, Deism, Nihilism and Existentialism have been discussed as under. Christian Theism: Answers Christian Theism believes that God created the Universe and is maintaining it. As Sire points out, there is a conflict between various schools of thought as to how much freedom has been granted to humans and what role God plays in the Universe. “While it is not the purpose of this description of theism to take sides in a famous family squabble within Christian theism (predestination vs. free will), we must note that Christians disagree on precisely what role God takes and what role he leaves us” (p. 38). However, most people are unanimous on the point that it is God who will decide the ultimate fate and deliverance. “Still, most would agree that God is the primary agent in salvation” (p. 38). After death Christian Theism holds the view that a human’s final destination is dependent upon the actions he has taken in life and the ‘sins’ and ‘good deeds’ he has committed. Christian Theism holds the view that the only reason we know anything is because we are told so by the bible. While reason and rationality are important, true ‘knowledge’ comes in the form of guidance from God. Similarly, it is God who has decided what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’ and has passed on this knowledge to humans. Christian Theism believes that history is a sequence of events that leads to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s divine purpose for humankind. Deism: Answers The prime reality in Deism is that although God has created the Universe he is impersonal to it and does not guide its workings. Deists believe that God has already created a ‘perfect’ system and that no improvements can be made in it. This brings up problems of the existence of morality. If ‘whatever is, is right’ then how can there be a question of right from wrong? The nihilist believes that morals are decided by the individual. Sire believes that the short life of Deism is due to the fact that it ends up obliterating the entire concept of morality. Deists believe that no one knows what happens after death and, therefore, no one should worry about it. Humans, in deism terms are simply another part of the clockwork mechanism of the universe. Deists believe that the only knowledge that can be gained is through nature or observational knowledge. Nihilism: Answers The prime reality Nihilism holds that there is no great purpose in life. Furthermore, that the search for the truth is pointless and fruitless. Given human circumstances, any sort of truth cannot be achieved. As Sire points out, the roots of nihilism are naturalistic. People, unable to comprehend the life on earth as being the only existence, progressed to nihilism, which states that life on earth is purpose-less. “For a growing number of people the results of reason are not so assured, the closed nature of the universe is perceived to be confining, the notion of death as extinction is psychologically disturbing” (p. 78). Nihilism does seem to point that there may be another world where ‘truth’ may exist. “If it proceeds to the absolute denial of everything, it even denies the reality of existence itself. In other words, nihilism is the negation of every thing --knowledge, ethics, beauty, reality. In nihilism no statement has validity; nothing has meaning. Everything is gratuitous, de trop, that is, just there” (p. 84). So, after death, there is a possibility that humans may go to a world where there is more sense, where they might have a purpose. The individual largely determines the definition of morality or right and wrong because a rational human being is capable of deciding his or her own future. “As the highest of beings, the only self-conscious, self-determined beings in the universe, men and women are rulers of all-free to value what they will, free even to control the future of their own evolution” (p. 86). History does not serve a purpose other than remind humans of what has been done in the past. Existentialism: Answers Existentialism is of the view that the universe simply exits and that there is no pre-existing purpose in the Universe or in a human’s life. However, a human can strive for meaning and can make meaning out of his or her life through his or her actions and interpretations of experience. Existentialism holds the view that humans are different from all other forms of life as they are ale to define themselves and their experiences and, ultimately, their purpose. Morality, right and wrong is decided by the Self. Humans are able to know as they are able to reason and rationalize their existence and the environment they live in. History is pointless and only serves as a lesson as what others have allegedly done and how convention and tradition has failed humanity. Conclusion Summing up the discussion above, it can be rightly concluded that James Sire’s The Universe Next Door is a thoroughly enlightening masterpiece that has a great deal of insight to offer to all its mature and serious readers who are intellectually inclined towards comprehending worldviews and the differences between them. Bibliography Sire, J. (2004). The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. (4th Edition). InterVarsity Press. Read More