Mark Cosgrove Foundations Of Worldview Summary

In the book foundations of Christian thought by Mark Cosgrove in part 1 the, Concept of Worldview, in chapter 5, Integration of Faith and Learning, Cosgrove explains the model of faith being broken down into four simple approaches. These models are the sole authority, separate authorities, equal authorities, and foundational authority. First, I will define Sole Authority, also known as the Against model, defined as faith against learning. In this model, it says that there is no point in studying human knowledge and that human knowledge is probably going to be incorrect. Everything worth learning, we can learn from God’s word. Secondly, is the Separate Authorities model, also known as the Parallels are faith and learning. This model says

that faith and learning complement each other rather than against, and believes that God wants us to learn both spiritual things from the bible and academic things of the world. Thirdly, is the Equal Authorities model, also known as the Integrates is faith plus learning. This module recognizes the fact that academic overlaps with the content of the Bible, and believes that these are equal sources of truth and that we should put them together to make more truth. Lastly, there is the foundation of authority model, also known as the worldviews is faith supports learning. This model says that the Bible sets a firm foundation for us to follow when we do our studies in various academic fields. A person’s beliefs affect his or her area of study, methods of study, and the conclusions that are reached from the study made.
Cosgrove explains in more detail about the four general models of integration. In the sole authority model, he says
“that the Bible is described as the only authority and worthwhile source of knowledge for Christians in the important areas of life. That belief springs, in part, from the teachings that the human’s mind is fallen, and even bright minds avoid accepting the clear truth from God. The sole authority model believes that the Bible is God’s trustworthy revelation to us and contains all we need to know to live our lives, share the gospel, and protect ourselves from sinful elements in our cultures. Human learning in the study of human nature and morality is considered nonessential, may be in error, and much of the time is simply not worth the effort.”
Cosgrove says that in the separate authority’s models “That God expects us to learn about spiritual things from the bible and about the things of the world from the academic disciplines. The term parallel refers to the idea that these two sources of truths run parallel to one another. They are both needed, but they do not cross or overlap into each other’s territory. On Sunday you can learn spiritual life, and on Monday through Saturday you can learn the world’s truths in the classroom.”
Cosgrove says that in the equal authority’s models “that faith and learning correlate with one another. The Bible and human subject areas are equal sources of the truth, and we should combine them to produce more truth than if we had used either alone. Each source of truth, special and general, contributes to your understanding of certain topics-human nature or ethics, for instance.”
Cosgrove says that in the foundational authority model says that this worldview approach acknowledges that beliefs do make a difference in academic pursuits. One’s faith or worldview does matter when one engages in the learning process. Our beliefs affect: 1) the subject areas we take an interest in studying, 2) the methods we use to study anything, and 3) the interpretation of or meaning we bring to, the accumulations of facts. In other words, the learning process in school is never an academically unbiased process; one’s learning is always affected by one’s worldview model, therefore, seeks to transform culture and ideas rather than reject, ignore, or just mix with culture and ideas.
Being in a Christian University, such as the University of Mobile, most, if not all classes are Christian based.

When I conducted the advisor interview with Mr. Ted Mashburn, the survey asks for him to answer three questions, such as (1) What advice would you give to help me integrate Christian faith with my academic coursework? (2) Which of the following models of faith and learning Integration most closely represents your approach in the classroom? (3) What resources (books, journals, articles, films, etc.) Do you recommend me to consult in order to write a paper on Integrating Christian faith into this academic major? When Mr. Mashburn was asked these questions, he answered them truthfully. First, he was asked what advice would you give to help me integrate Christian faith with my academic coursework. His answer was, “I think of life, work, studies are part of the work of the gospel in a person’s life. One who professes faith in the gospel will be constantly looking at everything using the values of mercy, grace, forgiveness, justice, and love. To be Christian is to be about the task of integration. It is not a particular action one takes, rather, it is who we are.” The second question he was asked was which of the following models of faith and learning integration most closely represents your approach in the classroom? His answer was, “I have long believed that where one finds God, one finds truth; and where one finds truth, one finds God. Obviously, as a Christian, I believe that in Jesus we find the ultimate revelation of God. So constantly, I am drawn back to the mission, massage, and spirit of Jesus. I should add that God is above religion, books, institutions, etc. whenever we try to encapsulate God, we demonstrate a lack of understanding.” The third question he was asked what resources (Books, journals, articles, films, etc.) Do you recommend me to consult in order to write a paper on integrating Christian faith into this academic major? His answer was,

“I could be cheeky and say, “consult life” but I won’t. I find that parables of Jesus are an excellent resource for understanding how the gospel integrates everyday living. In parables, Jesus normally takes a story from everyday 1st century Palestinian life, adds some details designed to provoke curiosity, and then points to a climatic truth always stretches the sensibilities of the most religious people in the evidence-Pharisees and scribes. We must never forget that Jesus had the most conflict with the most religious people!”
Integrating Faith in the Workplace
To integrate faith and learning into any field is a lot of hard work. Work relationships usually have more rules and guidelines than everyday life, outside of your career. The world today is not as accepting of God. Many businesses prohibit the discussion of religion while in the workplace. Therefore, it is important to choose wisely when applying for some jobs. This ensures that you are committing to a company with the same values and beliefs to prevent bigger problems later in your career. Choosing to work for a company that does not prevent you from sharing your faith, lessens the chance of hurt feelings and uncomfortable situations. Unfortunately, that is not as easy as it sounds. It is a very delicate balance between interviewing and asking the right questions when deciding where to start your career. People claim that the reason behind integrating their faith into their career is difficult because, so few companies actually allow true freedom of religion in the workplace. However, your faith should be evident in your everyday life, other than just in your work.
I am in the science field and some scientists believe that faith should not play a role in the scientific community. I, on the other hand, feel that my faith is the foundation on which everything in my life is built upon. My faith gives me the courage to believe in myself and step out in situations that I might not otherwise. These are the steps necessary to make me successful in my career. Darwin completely ruled out the thought of Christianity and that he believes that there is no God. Darwin is known for his thought of humans not being made from the one and only God, but that humans come from their ancestors or apes. The thought of evolution seems totally out there to me. Being in the science field is a hard field to be in because some scientists try to rule out any thought of God. The thing that stumps most scientists is the origin of life since there are many different theories. Different types of scientists try to disprove the Biblical belief. Biologist both Christian and non-Christians believe that evolution is not only just a theory but a fact. History has shown that many Christians have a hard time integrating their faith with many different types of scientific beliefs. The Bible shows that we were born from our first parents, Adam and Eve, while evolutionary science shows that the world was evolved from a tiny speck. Me personally, being a Christian, I do not believe in the evolutionary science because of the fact that there are many things that science is unable to prove. I also believe the Bible.
Faith in certain career choices
In many other fields of study, whether it be teaching, working in the medical field, ministry, business, arts, marketing or technology, discussing your faith can create problems within your career.
Teaching, for example, has its own set of challenges. If you are teaching in a public school, you have certain guidelines that you must follow regarding faith. If a teacher is not careful, just answering a student’s question regarding their faith, can land them in court. Some