Worldview and Identity

“It is not natural to see man as a natural product, it is not seeing straight to see him as an animal. It is not sane. It sins against the light, against the broad daylight of proportion, which is the principle of all reality” (Chesterton, G. K.)

An accurate worldview might best be defined as one that conforms to reality, or said another way, the one that harmonizes the makeup and/or the character of the human understanding as we know it. Upon years of study, the Orthodox Christian worldview appears to be the only view to withstand close scrutiny. The Bible tells us “God created man in His own image,…male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27, NASB). 

So when discussing worldview and identity beginning at the very beginning is a must, and in the beginning humans were created in a way as to reflect the character of the Creator of the entire universe and source of ultimate meaning. 

From the history books we can learn that prior to the settling of North America most cultures held a low view of the individual, and considered the individual secondary to the interest of the ethnic group. However, the multicultural worldview today is a direct descendant of the idea of ethnic group first and individual second. This type of collectiveness mindset has continued to cause major problems within the dominant culture that was based more on the individual first. Now it should be mentioned here that individual first ideas can be, and have been, equally destructive within the framework of worldview. 

The Bible teaches that all human beings have an eternal destination. It also teaches that all human beings will stand before God. On these two facts most professing Christians can, or should, be able to agree. My personal worldview is expressed foundationally by the facts that all human beings are equal before God, and all human beings are accountable to God for their decisions and choices. Any worldview that does not adhere to these foundational principles will most likely lead to destructive and derisive behaviors and beliefs. 

The proper Christian worldview recognizes humans as created in the image of God, that they have dignity, life is sacred, and there is meaning and purpose in every human life.

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