Introduction: Write an essay where you identify and evaluate a presupposition or set of presuppositions in your discipline in light of the worldview of Christian theism. To accomplish this purpose, complete the following tasks:
- Identify specific beliefs or ideas (presuppositions) in your discipline.
- Choose one presupposition or a set of presuppositions to examine in detail.
- Identify the worldview that the presupposition represents.
- Examine its validity in light of Christian theism.
Directions:
- View: How to write a documented worldview essay http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/iz1k7 [28 mins.]
- Read: C.S. Lewis, “The Poison of Subjectivism,” pp. 163-171
- Read: Worldviews by Jerry Solomon http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/w-views.html
- Read: Comparing five worldviews by Dennis McCallum https://www.xenos.org/essays/five-worldviews
- Organize your essay by dividing it into three parts:
o In your discipline of Ministry and Leadership with a concentration on Evangelism and Outreach, examine a specific worldview and its underlying presuppositions. You may select more than one. Remember to refer to a worker in the discipline using the third person (doctor, teacher, accountant…). Choose a worldview that is antithetical (or at least is not accommodating) to Christianity; a worldview with which you disagree. This can be determined by asking the following questions:
- §§ What do the presuppositions say about meaning?
- §§ How is evidence approached and evaluated?
- §§ Should the presuppositions and the subsequent theory or assertion be rejected by the
Christian theist?
- §§ Should the belief or theory be accepted by the Christian theist at all? If so, in what
manner?
- §§ Can the theory or position be modified to fit a Christian theistic worldview? Describe
the worldview in detail; you must use the correct philosophical terms (metaphysics,
epistemology, axiology).
o Show how and why the worldview is flawed.
- §§ Use the tests of reason, experience, and practice to analyze the presuppositions of the worldview.
- §§ Use presuppositional apologetics as a means to evaluate how a particular worldview stands on its own merits. In other words, examine the validity of the basic assertions of an argument.
- §§ Discuss the ramifications for the discipline if the worldview is carried to its logical conclusion.
o Assert the correct worldview as it relates to Christian theism.
- §§ Indicate the reasons this worldview and its presuppositions are valid.
- §§ Discuss the ramifications of this worldview in the discipline you have chosen.
- §§ Explain how the Christian perspective would direct the theories or ideas espoused as
well as guide the activities of the researcher or scientist. How would the field change?
- §§ In what ways could your faith in Christ enrich your discipline?
- §§ How could Christianity ensure the validity and correctness of the actions taken as a
result of the discoveries of the discipline.
