What do we mean by a worldview?

A worldview is simply "the comprehensive framework of one's significant beliefs about things and their relationships." Thus anything it is possible to have a significant belief about can be included in a worldview. These beliefs form a framework, which holds these beliefs together in a particular way, functioning as a model or pattern for interpreting the world around us. And a worldview is made up of beliefs, not feelings or opinions, since beliefs make a claim to some kind of knowledge about the way things are. Beliefs can be defended with arguments, but feelings can not. Also, beliefs are not merely opinions, but something about which we have strong convictions because we see them as important, that is, significant for life. A worldview is not trivial or irrelevant.

Thus our Christian faith can be presented in the form of a worldview: as "the comprehensive framework of one's significant beliefs about things and their relationships." What do we as Christians believe is really significant? Do these beliefs form a comprehensive framework or not? What are the kinds of things in the world; how are they related, and to what are they related?

This Christian worldview makes a difference, because it is significant for our life in the world. It shapes and directs our lives in important ways, because it is the framework of our most basic beliefs about everything.

This series of studies is an initial introduction to the idea that Christianity provides a coherent, robust and significant basis for life that is a distinctive and genuine alternative to the prevailing worldviews which currently shape our society.

No doubt there will be many questions arising out of these studies that cannot be dealt with in an initial outline such as this. Such questions can be followed up in some of the material mentioned in the reading list at the conclusion.

Return to our list of studies