What's Your Worldview?

[forHISglory]

Worldview is basically how you see the world; it's how you interpret reality. Our individual worldview answers questions that all humans have had over the centuries. It enables us to say that something is good or bad, right or wrong. It helps us explain why bad things happen to good people. Yet, due to the complexity of humans and human experience, very few have exactly the same worldview.

Understanding the general worldview of the ancient Greeks, for instance, helps us understand Homer and Plato, etc. Understanding the world view of the early 20th century helps me understand the Crash of 1929 and the lifestyles found in "The Great Gatsby."

Understanding my own personal worldview helps me understand my stance toward literature, personal finances, government, the family, the arts, religion, and politics, just to name a few items.

I'm starting a class soon that is a combination of worldview, world literature and philosophy. And I need a little help. Could you answer some questions for me?

I am NOT looking for any debate. I AM looking for your thoughtful and detailed answers. I don't want to see any bashing of any poster or any poster's ideas. I simply need honest answers from your personal viewpoint. These are not necessarily easy to answer, but I'd appreciate any feedback you can give to any or all of these questions. THANKS!

1. Who am I?

2. What is my purpose?

3. Where did I come from?

4. Where am I going?

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?

6. What is truth?

7. What is evil?

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?

Again, THANKS! I know this is asking a lot of you.

[3tomboys]

1. Who am I? I am a wife, mother, friend and hard worker
2. What is my purpose? To be the best wife I can be, to raise my dd's to be happy, a positive role model, and be successful in whatever they do (sahm,career women, etc)
3. Where did I come from? I came from a loving home, but not a perfect home
4. Where am I going? One day I will go to heaven and be with all my family and friends who have gone before me
5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge? I believe there is a God, but that he is someone and/or something different to everyone and that it is OK to believe differently
6. What is truth? Truth is the real story not the embellished one
7. What is evil? Evil is when you intentionally hurt someone big or small physically or mentally
8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral? I like to believe the Natural world is good
9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces? I thonk this could go either way, it depends on the person. Do they believe that they have to have and be like everyone else or do they believe that is wonderful to have your own beliefs and be your own person
10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here? I believe that a lot of my views come from growing up in a family where money was very tight and did not live, per say on the right side of the tracks. I feel that some of my decissions in adulthood have come from the times when I felt like I did not belong. My dh and I have been together since I was 16 and he 18. We both did not have the most stable childhoods and were determined to change this with are children. We have tried to raise them to accept the idea that everyone is different and that it is OK to have your own ideas and opinions. We have also worked hard to provide a financially stable environment and to make are relationship a priority so that when they go to bed at night they ar not hungry and they know both of us will still be there in the morning to support them in all of the daily ups and downs.

I just have to say that I really enjoy your posts, you really make me look at things in a very hectic world.

[Lady_V]

I hope this helps with your class.

MY world view is not YOUR world view. No two people can share the same view, even if they stand side by side and see the same exact thing. It's all in personal interpretation... and this is MINE.

1. Who am I?

I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, a lover, a human... but I still don't know who I am, of all the titles I hold, not one can define me totally.

2. What is my purpose?

I wish I knew. I didn't come with a manual. I know there is a stopping point, death... so in the meantime I am doing the best I can to raise my daughter to be accepted as well as accepting. I suppose that is my purpose, to help change the world, by helping contribute to the ripple of acceptance. An acceptance where race, religion, orientation are overlooked because all people see... are other people.

3. Where did I come from?

I am a spawning of a human commonly referred to as Mom. I know some people think they resided in Heaven and came down here by choice. I, am not one of those people. I don't think I would or could make the decision to leave what is described to be perfection and unconditional love... for the pain, and turmoil surrounding the residents of this planet.

4. Where am I going?

Nowhere. People are always in a rush to 'get there'. How do they know when they are there and are they truly happy once they do or are they in the next race to 'get somewhere else'. I once thought I had to 'do this' and 'do that'. Why? I don't know if I will be happier 'there'. I know I am happy 'where I am' in my life.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?

I don't know. If I did, I would be loved by some, feared by some, and hated by most. I do believe there are 'other' things higher than myself, but they do not have a positive or negative influence or effect on my life, the way I live it, or the things that happen to me. I think some people cling to the idea of a higher power, whatever it may be to them, because it gives them a way to place blame when something goes wrong, to give praise when something goes right, and to free themselves from total responsibility.

6. What is truth?

The third side, rarely seen.

7. What is evil?

Evil depends on the person defining it. Many people consider a murderer to be 'bad' or 'evil' because they took another life. If a man is killed while doing 'evil', does that make his murder less 'evil'? Are the two murders equally evil? Are the people who committed them equally 'evil'?

I think people substitute the word 'evil' for 'culturally taboo'. I find child molestation to be a horrid thing. I live in the US. I was raised in a country where this is not only not condoned, but illegal. Had I been raised in another country where female children are married young and I would most likely be a child bride, would I still think it's horrid... or normal?

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?

Neutral. Good can not exist without Evil. Evil can not exist without Good. The two balance each other out.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?

A free agent who allows external control.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?

I think there is so much more to life than what people have been experiencing, but they are too distracted by the glitz and gore to notice it.

People need to slow down and actually SEE what is around. Actually SEE where they are headed. Actually SEE where they have been. Actually KNOW who they are, and not just who they think they are.

[Drgnfly423]

1. Who am I?
I am a human being. I am a wife, sister, future-mother, friend.

2. What is my purpose?
My purpose is to be the best human that I can. By that I mean that in every situation that I am in I will try to act with compassion and understanding.

3. Where did I come from?
Two other human beings. =)

4. Where am I going?
The only future that can be for me.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?
Not for me. I believe that what ever we choose to believe is true for us individually. There are too many faiths out there for ONE to be right.

6. What is truth?
See above. Truth is honesty. Truth is pure, "no-spin".

7. What is evil?
Evil is the tool that people or groups use as a means to an end to their own beliefs. It is the complete opposite of truth. To me evil is the darkness that will ruin humanity.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
I believe the natural world is good.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
A human is free, but easily swayed by external forces. We are able to think and analyze information, which can make us free or controlled.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
My whole life experience has led me to my answers. My belief and studies in Buddhism and other Eastern religion has influenced some of my answers. In general I believe that people have a choices in their lives and hope that they act compassionately always. Although, I know that to not always be true. I'm not a parent yet, so ask me again in a few years and some of my answers might change. =)

[leezza]

I sent you a PM : )

leezza

[Michelle68]

1. Who am I?
I am me. Beyond that, I am many different facets rolled into one. I am different things to different people. To an extent, I've been shaped by my upbringing, my experiences and the world around me but my soul is uniquely mine.

2. What is my purpose?
To be the best person I can be and to, in my own way- whether great or small- help others and make a positive impact on the world and those around me.

3. Where did I come from?
I come from a little bit of dysfunctionality and a lot of laughter.

4. Where am I going?
I don't know and don't want to know.The joy in life is discovering the "new frontiers" that we encounter as we walk our chosen paths.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?
I believe there is God who, though is all powerful, has given us the gift of free-will to choose our own paths in life and has given us the intelligence to make those decisions and guidance and love to help us along the way.

6. What is truth?
Truth is clarity.

7. What is evil?
Evil is darkness which seeks to destroy the soul and everything that is good in this world.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
Neutral.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
A human is susceptible to being controlled by external forces, although ultimately is a free-agent with the ability to make his/her own decisions regarding to how they react to those external forces.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
These are just the things I feel to be true.


--Michelle

[Moor]

1. Who am I?
I am a strong woman. I am a fighter. I am a mother. I am a helpmate. I am a lover. I am a friend. I am a doctor to my kids. I am the chaser of bad dreams. I am the champion of the world. I am the one that people hide behind. I am the one that makes the best cookies. I am the woman who is there whenever anyone needs me. I am the bringer of fear. I am the bright spot in someones day.

2. What is my purpose?
To be all that I can, to all that I can. To make an impact on someone's life when they really don't know that they need it.

3. Where did I come from?
I come from people who believe in this world.

4. Where am I going?
Not sure about this one. My life course has changed so many times in the past. I know that it will change again. So I just go with the flow.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?
There are many things out there. I am unsure of a lot of things. But I know that to some, God is real. To other's he/she is Allah, Yahweh, Muhammad, Buddah, or who ever you choose to pray to. Me, I believe that there is a God. Am I a practicing christian? No.

6. What is truth?
The purest thing, in the simplest form.

7. What is evil?
The opposite of good.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
It is neutral. Evil cannot exist with out good and vice versa.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
A human is a free agent. There may be some things that will control how we act, react. But our choices are our own.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
I have researched a lot of different religions over my life. I know that there are things that some believe in without having to have proof, while others need cold hard facts. We are a product of our enviroment, until we are able to think and act on our own, then we start questioning, searching, and looking until we find what fits us at the time.

[janis362529]

1. Who am I?a mother a wife a cheater a hurter

2. What is my purpose?to be an aider. when someone needs help getting to their next destinied place I am there to guide the way.

3. Where did I come from?parents who were never ment to be parents

4. Where am I going?forward albiet slowly to where not yet sure but definitly away from where I was

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?I think their is a higher power who helps guide us but is not totally in charge

6. What is truth?something very hard to find

7. What is evil?something that is everywhere and in everything

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?neutral

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?a free agent with guidence

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?I am an aider b/c I have walked many family and friends to the doors of death,guided many towards reaching their childhood goals,and now I am also a aider to helping my children find who they are to be.[/I]

[forHISglory]

You know, I wasn't sure if anyone would answer this thread or not. It's different from some others here, and it requires some thought to answer the questions....... thought that perhaps is not foremost in our minds most of the time.

Thanks to all here and those who PM'd answers.

Just to tickle your minds a bit more: What effect does worldview have on your financial life and frugal/unfrugal lifestyle?

[HisDaisy]

These are great questions. I am curious about others responses, especially those that have a different worldview that than I have. I am going to answer before I read the rest of the responses.

1. Who am I? First of all I am a follower of Christ. Secondly, I am a wife, homemaker, teacher, sister, daughter, and many other things.
.
2. What is my purpose? My purpose is to serve and follow Christ. I am to serve where ever I am put. That may be at home, in an workplace, church, on the mission field, or at school.

3. Where did I come from? I am a created being, not a mistake, but one that was knit together by My creator.

4. Where am I going? Ultimately I am headed home to be with God. In the mean time, I am to live life to the fullest here Earth.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge? Yes, there is a God. A God that is personal and can be known. He is involved in our every day lives.

6. What is truth? In short truth can be summed up in the person of Jesus. The truth is laid out in the Bible. Truth is absolute and not relative.

7. What is evil? Evil is the opposite of truth. God allowed evil to enter the world. Evil is the result of sin and rebellion. It effects us all.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral? The natural world is affected by the sin of man and therefor contains evil. On the other hand it is created by God and is good. I don't think that it is either good or evil, but it is affected by both.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
We were given a free will by God. We are not puppets on the colossal stage. We are free to do what we want, by we are not free of the consequences of our actions.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
I am a Christian and being so shapes my worldview. I view my world through God's scripture. As I become more like Christ, my worldview conforms more to His Worldview.

Thank you for these questions. They really made me think about what I believe. Am not sure I have put the answers to many of these question in writing before. I may save this post.

[IntlMom]

1. Who am I? A daughter of the King

2. What is my purpose? to glorify God, my Creator in everything that I say and do

3. Where did I come from? See above - I was created by God...He knew every one of my days before one of them came to be.

4. Where am I going? Eventually, Heaven, my eternal home!!

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge? There is not just A God, but YHWH, Jehovah Jirah!!

6. What is truth? This is a tougher question, too vague for me....so I'll just say that the Word of God is truth!

7. What is evil? Evil are things that the oppose God (that's a gross generality, I realize)

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
The natural world is evil (sinful).

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces? This is the toughest one to answer here......... I do beleive that we as humans beleive that we have free choice, but the Bible tells us that every one of our days were written before on of them came to be (Ps 139, I believe)...so the Word of God tells us that our days were desitined for us before we were even born...and I totally beleive that!

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
I am a born again Christian. My faith in My Jesus is the filter that I see everything through and I make all my decisions through.....I cannot and have no desire to separate myself from My Jesus.

Thanks for asking.......

[elphie]

First, thanks for the opportunity to contemplate these things and good luck with your class. Second, I intentionally didn't read anyone else's responses for fear they would influence my own. Now I intend to go back and read and hope to be influenced and learn something new today!

1. Who am I? This is probably the toughest to answer because I don't believe any of the roles or labels I have in this life are the core of who I am. Being a wife, mother, teacher, friend, daughter, sister, etc. are important in introducing me to my truest self but they are not who I am.

So then, who am I? I am an introspective, emotional person, who learns by reading, seeing, and being. I am a person who fiercly seeks understanding and clarity of all view points, even those with which I disagree. I am a person who craves new experiences. I am a person who sees the best in people. I am a person who, for better or worse, feels the pain of others and can detect it even when masked by fear, anger, false bravado, etc.

2. What is my purpose? My sole purpose in this life is to become my truest self. For my personality and my soul to become as close to one as possible.

3. Where did I come from? Heaven

4. Where am I going? Home

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge? Absolutely, even when things go badly, and they must in order for each of us to have the freedom to find ourselves, God only allows those things from which He knows that we can learn if we seek to.

6. What is truth? The space in which God lives and sheds His light.

7. What is evil? Just as cold doesn't really exist, but is only the absence of heat, evil is simply the absense of good.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral? Neutral, people either choose to apply good or ignore it and therefore invite evil.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces? Blessedly free

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here? A lot of reading, discussion groups, casual conversations with friends, prayer, and meditation have led me to these conclusions. They did not come all at once and I continue to seek and therefore refine these opinions on a daily basis. I believe this to be a life long journey.

[elphie]

.

Just to tickle your minds a bit more: What effect does worldview have on your financial life and frugal/unfrugal lifestyle?

Knowing that I am a spiritual being in this physical world prevents me from needing material things in order to be happy. When I am most grounded I am content with what I have and even have the desire to purge many of my physical possessions.

Another note: I went back and read everyone's answers after posting my own. I am fascinated by the different answers posted in this thread. Perhaps the most interesting is that people with different religious backgrounds can answer some questions so similarly while those with the same background have vastly different answers. Its very intriguing... I think you'll enjoy this class; I know I would!

[TheRootedNomad]

I want to say first that I have answered these before reading anyonr elses answers. If they resemble anyone elses answers than take that as what it is as oppossed to being influenced before answering.

1. Who am I?
We had to write our Epitaphs for a class one time years ago. This was suppose to be what summed up my life. (There was a word limit) I think this is still fitting although in it's state of renovation the house isn't really "welcoming at the moment".

Daughter and Sister
Mother and Wife
Lover of Knowledge
Lover of Life
Known for her Baking
Done mostly on Stone
Lover for her Heart
Welcomed by her Home
Strong was her Body
As well as her Mind
Dreamer and Realist
Both at the same time.

2. What is my purpose?
To listen and encourage. To help heal those that I can in whatever way I can. My mark I think, will not be left by what I do personally, but by those I've been there for.

3. Where did I come from?
From every experience I have had and that of those that the people I have come in contact with throughout my life have had.

4. Where am I going?
In the end? I don't know. I would like to believe there is a heaven but most of the time I believe that when we are gone we are gone. Our afterlife is what others remember of us. What we have taught that is passed down be it empathy, smiles, a trade, violence, holding our tongues or speaking out.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge?
I don't know. Most of the time I think not. It doesn't follow any pattern of logic that makes sense to me but yet I still find myself unable to close off the possibility all together.

6. What is truth?
I am still searching for an answer to this. Most days I believe that it is something that is not argueable or able to be seen as more than one way. That doesn't seem to leav much to be truth though.

7. What is evil?
Evil is greed, selfishness, arrogence, lack of empathy and/or compassion. It is cruel and unjustified.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
I think the natural world is neutral and that the good and evil in it are there only because of human choices.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
The human is a free agent. We choose our lives. Sometimes other humans have control of us, such as when we are helpless infants but other than other humans it is ourselves that are ultimately responsible for our own lives.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
I believe that every experience we have had in our lives are a piece of the puzzle that lead us to what we believe from the first breath we breath to the last one we take before we die. I think that because of that our beliefs are always open to change whether we think they are or not.

[Greebo]

1. Who am I? I am Greebo. I am me.

2. What is my purpose? Life and living are ends unto themselves. My first purpose is to pursue my own interests, values, and goals.

3. Where did I come from? I was conceived and born.

4. Where am I going? Where I so choose.

5. Is there a God, or something supernatural who is totally in charge? There is no material evidence to support the idea that some supernatural being that defies all known and demonstrable laws of physics and reality exists, and it is not rational to believe in something for which there is no proof other than the belief of others, so, no, there is no indication that some intelligence beyond our ken is completely in charge, or even exists.

6. What is truth?
That which can be measured and observed. Reality exists, and things are what they are.

7. What is evil?
Evil is a concept only applicable to living things, and living things are ends unto themselves. Evil is that which goes contrary to life.

8. Is the natural world good, evil, or neutral?
The natural world is not a living entity as such, and can not be qualified as good or evil, only neutral. Only individual beings can be considered good or evil.

9. Is a human a free agent , or controlled by external forces?
We are free to choose whether we will be free, or will be controlled.

10. Do you have any particular reasons or experiences that have led to any of your answers? Or do you have other worldview questions that I have not listed here?
Primarily my reasons for my world views are philosophical. I consciously choose to reject any philosophy which holds as truth that which is contrary to that which is self-evident.