Religious Worldview Essay

What is a the difference between a religious worldview and a secular worldview?

According to the definition found in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary states that religion is the belief in a god or in a group of gods: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods or an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group.

The difference between personal worldview, which is defined as “one's personal view of the world and how one interprets it” , and a biblical worldview is defined “as the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it. This is a question that requires one to look into themselves

with their personal perspective and point of view to determine what category they fall into. Much of our personal worldview is based on our surroundings and focused on the influences that shape our everyday lives. It is not completely bizarre to see that television, media and education play an extremely large role in creating the perspectives and viewpoints of the society. These influences can cause our developmental years to be affected by society’s perceived values and norms and rarely have any basis in biblical foundations.
Usually children are taught from a young age that there are rules and regulations in society that must be followed in order to be a successful and productive part of society, and with that, they learn that authority is a task regulated by those whose opinions and influence were held in respect and whose prestige and position were deemed worthy by popular votes. At times, because of status within the community or culture, society placed them in positions of authority.
However, if one never conforms to what is considered popular or “the norm” and occasionally displays behavior was seen as rebellious and stubborn, then what can a worldview, whether it is biblical or secular, be based on?

So, thinking about my question, it could be said that personal perception is never in unison with the worldview of parents or with what society allowed as acceptable. From a personal standpoint, it would be better to look beyond the limitations set by ideas that, because of economic status or educational achievement, one is confined or restrained because of cultural opinions. With study and faith, it becomes clear that these worldly classifications or opinions have failed to fulfill the broader spectrum of the unlimited possibilities God has promised and set forth in His word that is available to all who believe and follow Him.

In looking at the distinctions of what is stated to be the difference between a secular worldview and a biblical worldview, it can be difficult for anyone to adjust the mindset between the two without study and faith. God has communicated in Romans 12:2 that we not conform to the pattern of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, for it is the mind that must be transformed before actual change can

occur.
There was a quote associated with French Jesuit priest and philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin that I saw on Facebook that states “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” This statement has come up in print on more than one occasion when I started to figure out where the lines between a secular worldview and a biblical worldview become blurred, especially when there are such chaotic and confusing affiliations with other nations and their religious beliefs. However, this statement gives such a great impact to outwardly think about the mental transformation from a personal worldview to a biblical worldview by giving in and doing the divine nature of God that lives within one’s self.
By internalizing and fully understanding the weight of this statement, there can be an even a greater transformation and revolution within a society’s thought process, whereas instead of looking at circumstances and issues that the world experiences and chalk it up to just another fact or consequence of world affairs or merely happenstance, but to look at it from a biblical perspective to seek and find biblical wisdom about it.
The Scriptures say in 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” This clearly states that as believers we are not to place importance or significance to things of the world because it is contrary to the will of God. Conforming our minds to a biblical worldview and thus realizing that we have been created to be like God in righteousness, holiness and perspective makes us see that we are created by something much bigger and greater than we could even fathom.