What is a simple definition of worldview?
About 80 boys sat facing the front of the church intently focusing their eyes on Chaplain Matt, waiting to hear words of wisdom. But instead, he asked them, “Who here wears glasses?” What? Glasses? What does that have to do with anything? As Chaplain Matt continued, he shared that glasses give us a view of the world as we know it. It’s one of the most important things that we have as Christians. Holding up a pair of glasses, he said, “These glasses help to give us a simple definition of worldview.”
My son’s Trail Life group has been learning about worldview the past six weeks and honestly, it’s been really refreshing for me. It’s reminded me that I’m never too old and no one is too young to learn what it means to have a biblical worldview. Even as a mom, I need to be really clear on my understanding and my definition of worldview. It is vitally important as I seek to live a healthy lifestyle as a Christian—and it’s equally important for you too.
Every single day, we wake up and live guided by something other than circumstances. And we likely don’t give a thought to it at all. What is it? It’s your definition of worldview. Now you might be thinking, “First, what exactly is worldview? And…second, what does worldview have to do with motherhood and normal everyday living? Isn’t that just something that philosophers, professors, and pastors talk about?”
Honestly, you wouldn’t be alone in your thinking.
Traditionally, discussing the definition of worldview has been primarily reserved for secular secondary schools and universities as well as private Christian educational institutions. Even the word, “worldview” has a certain connotation of thinking that separates the philosophical from the practical of the every day. At first glance, the connection between worldview and motherhood can feel almost as illogical as Elon Musk in a room full of toddlers.
But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Worldview is the very foundation for everyday life. It guides how we feel, what we think, and what we do every single day.
What best describes a worldview?
The definition of worldview can be described simply as a pair of glasses, like Chaplain Matt was explaining to our son’s Trail Life Group.
For me, I do need either a physical pair of glasses or contact lenses to correct my eye sight. It’s been this way since I was in the fourth grade, so for me or anyone like me, this analogy can be pretty straight forward. But if you don’t have this same issue as me, I really want you to try and imagine life with glasses—but with even more restriction.
Think about it this way: tomorrow morning when you wake up you will need to put on a pair of glasses in order to live, think, breathe, and feel. All of you that is in existence—you will be required to wear a pair of glasses. You need those glasses to see and do…anything.
Sound extreme? Maybe. But, you and I do this every single day without really thinking about it.
Wearing a pair of glasses: this is a simple definition of worldview.
The glasses that you and I wear every single day are the lens by which we filter everything we see, think and do in our life. Or simply put, a synonym for worldview is filter—a filter for life’s meaning and purpose.
Recently I have been wearing blue–light blocking glasses at night to minimize interference with my melatonin production and to help in regulating my circadian rhythm. Initially I didn’t really know if they would make a difference, but they really have changed things for me both in what I see and how it has impacted me physically. Here’s a picture of what my husband affectionately calls me Bonnette—a female version of the singer Bono.
And just like I get to pick out what type of glasses that I do actually wear to help me physically see the world around me, every person decides what worldview glasses they will wear to determine how they will live.
The Definition of Worldview
Just like you pick out a pair of glasses based on certain characteristics—size, shape, strength, and how they fit—the description of a worldview is also generally guided by five basic characteristics or questions.
- Where did I come from? (Origin)
- Who am I? (What is my identity?)
- What is my purpose? (Why am I here?)
- How should I live? (Morality and Choices)
- Where am I going when I die? (Existentialism)
If you think about it, everyone at some point asks these five fundamental questions to the deeper meaning of life. And everyone has an answer to their definition of worldview either by omission, influence, or with intentionality—or a combination of any of the three. We’ll talk about this a little more in a bit. But first, let’s talk about how a naive freshman girl became recognized as Sarah Connor, the woman who saved the world.
Forming a Worldview
It was the fall of 1996 and a classroom of 18 freshman students slowly trickled into the small classroom that was nestled in the second story of the on campus library. Most of the students were less than thrilled to be there at eight a.m. in the morning, but it was a required six week class for all of them to graduate. Professor Mosely took to the podium and began to address the class. He was a small framed man with dark black tousled hair that just barely touched the back of his neck. He began class, with a short opening prayer that was something kind of like this:
“God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, please guide our time together. Help us to know the Truth of Your Word and let it guide us in all that we say and do. Amen.”
Next, the professor began taking attendance. One by one he went through his list until he came to me.
“Sonya W.?”
I timidly raised my hand and said, “Here”.
He quickly replied by saying, “Oh my goodness, you look just like Sarah Connor from the Terminator Series!”
Immediately the whole classroom turned to look at me and my face turned bright red.
I was so embarrassed about what happened at the time, but it really broke the ice for me. From that point on, I was known as “Sarah Connor”. There was some familiarity with it and it kind of made me feel welcome and comfortable with the rest of the group of people—all of whom I didn’t know and likewise they didn’t know me at all. On top of that, I was in a huge city that was very foreign to me. That embarrassing moment totally set the tone for me in contributing to discussions in that class over the remaining six weeks. You could wager to say that me becoming Sarah Connor literally saved my future. How so?
To start, that first semester, as a freshman, I was required to take this six week COR100 class. I didn’t choose it. It was chosen for me. The first four weeks of the class covered in detail what worldview is and how worldview and religion are tightly connected. Then the last two weeks we discussed what it looks like to live practically with a Christian Worldview while developing and growing in biblical wisdom and discernment.
It wasn’t until that class that I had ever even heard of the word worldview. I had graduated from a public school and this was my first experience within the context of a four year private Christian liberal arts college. Meanwhile, almost all of my classmates had graduated from the private Christian school that was across the street.
Much like Sarah Connor was unaware of her future in the Terminator Series, little did I know at the time, that those six weeks covering worldview and discernment would also forever change the trajectory of my life from there on out.
That worldview class was all so new, and intriguing to me. The most important part that I remember, was the hours of valuable conversation that ensued. As a class we really wrestled with the five questions I mentioned above and it helped me to bring a strong Biblical definition of worldview into a rock solid foundation for my faith and life.
It’s been 28 years and I can remember so vividly the smell of the room, my college professor Mr. Mosely and his ease in facilitating conversation, along with the general air of apathy from most of my classmates who had already been “schooled in worldview” from their private Christian school upbringing.
4 Types of Worldview
Like my class did years ago, anyone who stops to consider the answers to the five worldview questions, mentioned previously, will inevitably come to their own conclusions. This then creates for them their proverbial “glasses” with which they wear day in and day out. It’s similar to what Henry Ford said years ago, ““Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Your thoughts are very powerful and what guides those thoughts shapes everything in your worldview.
As we talk about worldview, we can start to uncover all sorts of definitions, descriptions, and academic philosophies—but to exhaustively cover the many variations of worldview would not be useful, at least in this context. And so, I want to give you some basic examples or types of worldview. You’ll be able to observe that a lot of the answers to the basic five worldview questions inevitably end up relating back to religion and the existence or non–existence of God. This is how worldview directly relates to sharing the gospel and effectively engaging in Christian apologetics. I whole heartedly agree with Answers in Genesis in their clarion call for apologetics to be ready to give a defense.
“In a culture where God’s Word is constantly under attack from those both inside and outside of the church, we must always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us. Christianity is rooted in history—real people and events of the past.”
We can look at worldview in categories or types. And this is important to be aware of, because even though we may not think we believe what another worldview believes—we can never underestimate the power of cultural influence on our thinking and beliefs.
Simply put, some Christians will feel certain that they have a Christian worldview, but what they actually believe is not in the Bible at all. Often it is because they don’t know anything about the Bible except for what they may have heard during a Sunday sermon. If that’s you, let me encourage you. Having an authentic and real Christian Worldview is a benefit of reading the Bible daily. Here are 10 more benefits.
Here are 4 Basic Types of Worldview:
- Scientific Worldview: Answers to worldview are received through empirical, data–driven observation. The world tends to be objective and holds less meaning. An example of those who hold to a more scientific worldview are those who consider themselves atheists.
- Christian Worldview: With a Christian Worldview, in very simple terms, answers are received through revelation, the world itself is more objective, but it also holds great meaning.
- Eastern Religions Worldview: When we generally consider Eastern Religions, the consensus among those with this worldview hold to the idea that all paths lead to God. There is a focus on the Self. The world tends to be more subjective and it holds less meaning. Some examples include: Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age Thinking, etc.
- Relativistic Worldview: In the Relativistic Worldview, we create our own meaning. I feel has replaced I know. The world tends to be more subjective but also has more meaning. Some examples include: Postmodernists, Romantics, artists, nihilists, etc.
Along with the basic understanding of these types of worldviews, we must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that although we may easily “say” that we have a Christian worldview, we cannot deny the influence of a predominantly postmodern culture in which we live.
For example, historically, cultural change has been taking place at a much slower shift over time. Nearly 30 years ago, in my college worldview class, we specifically talked about how we were currently living in a postmodern culture. And while that certainly was true then, and it is still true today, one of the big differences impacting cultural change more rapidly today is the erosion of definitions. Today, definitions of words have become fluid in meaning. Definitions are open to self definition and expression. There are no absolutes. Things that meant one thing years ago, don’t have the same meaning that they do today and in some cases can mean something completely opposite of their original definition—depending on who is defining things. This is just one example of how postmodernism has fully infiltrated the culture in which we currently live.
As you can see, the topic of worldview can quickly become complex. But my main point in talking about worldview is to bring us back to creating a healthy definition of worldview that is simple. And I’d like to go into that a little more—to encourage you to consider your own definition of worldview.
What is Your Worldview?
Like I mentioned before, the definition of worldview can be shaped by omission, influence, by intentionality—or even a combination of the three. Let’s take some time to think about how your worldview is being shaped.
- Are you defining your worldview by omission?
Having a definition of worldview by omission simply means that you kind of just go about life without really thinking constructively about worldview. You still have an answer for each of the questions, but life is so chaotic that you barely have time to slow down. And to slow down is uncomfortable.
- Or maybe you’ve chosen a pair of worldview glasses that are “popular”?
Your definition of worldview can be highly influenced by the postmodern culture, by instruction or opinion of others, and also by your own experiences.
Getting back to the glasses analogy, if you consider glasses these days, you’re probably aware of the rage with what is popular for glasses. There are glasses that are clear, bold, simple, flashy, and of course everyone has to have the coveted “popular brand name”. The glasses that you decide to wear can be highly influenced by your peers, culture, and how you feel.
Do you feel the pressure to think or act a certain way because you don’t want to be left out—or do you trust that someone is speaking the truth because they always have spoken truth in the past?
- Or, lastly, have you taken the time to define your worldview with intentionality?
I already shared my experience with forming a definition of worldview through my college worldview class. And yet this intentionality is so very different from just letting worldview happen by omission. It’s so very different from letting our definition of worldview be highly influenced by change, situations, emotions, and culture.
An Unchanging Definition of Worldview
Getting back to your initial thoughts when you started reading—how does worldview relate to my everyday life?
My prayer, my hope, is that as you have read my story you will have been able to see that my definition of worldview has remained unchanging and is a strong foundation for my faith giving me biblical clarity, discernment, and the ability to respond and engage in theologically grounded apologetics.
Sadly, my story is not true for many of my classmates that were with me during those six weeks. They went through the same class, heard the same discussions, had the same opportunity as me—and yet many of them don’t even profess to be Christians today. I don’t know all of their stories. But I do know that I have been intentional with preserving my definition of worldview.
Sweet mom, the every day, day in and day out of life, motherhood, marriage—it all hinges on being intentional in having a strong biblical worldview. Because without it, you will waver. You will be influenced by culture and it will cause you to drift, become confused and anxious.
To be honest, I used to take my definition of worldview for granted. I really thought many people had a firm foundation, like I did.
These past few years, I’ve continually watched culture shift and become increasingly chaotic. I’ve watched, what I thought were strong Christian brothers and sisters, get beaten down by the waves of anxiety and succumb to the tantalizing deceptions of false hopes and desires. I’ve seen how mixtures of Scientific Reason, Relativism, and Eastern Religious thought has permeated our culture that hyper–focuses on “self care” and “healthy” as means to happiness and freedom for all.
Man fails. I fail and will make mistakes. Emotions are real, but can be deceptive. So what do we do to create firm healthy and biblical foundations—foundations that will not give way when stress, chaos, and life’s heartbreaks and anxiety come your way? (related content: How to Stop Feeling Anxious in 5 minutes or Less)
Today, consider what I’ve shared. Seek to be intentional in creating a definition of worldview for yourself—that is unchanging and formed based on God’s Word.
Where do you start? Immerse yourself in God’s Word. The Word of God is unchanging—and this is what we use to form a strong Biblical worldview. If you need help getting started, grab my Daily Bible Reading Quick Start Guide here.
