The Different World Views
1. Biblical Christianity
Source: The Bible, Understanding the Times by David Noble
Supernaturalism, meaning that God controls the universe through supernatural means. Numerous things that can’t be explained naturally.
Theology: Monotheism, meaning the belief in one god.
Ethicks: ethical absolutes, absolute right and wrong, good and bad
Science: special creation, not some ongoing creation, but a special creation.
Psychology: Dualism, the idea that human beings have a dual nature, body and spirit, every time you have psychology you have to treat both sides. A counselor in this world-view will deal with issues of sin or other spiritual issues.
Sociology: Home, church and state, in that order. If society is ailing, first fix home, then the church and then the state.
Law: Biblical and natural law ("natural law" is defined by Merriam-Webster Online as "a body of law or a specific principle held to be derived from nature and binding upon human society in the absence of or in addition to positive law." "Positive law" is defined as "law established or recognized by governmental authority."). Natural law is revealed through the biblical source and is natural, meaning it is above mankind. We have no ability to change natural laws.
Politics: Justice, freedom, and order. The purpose of the state is to establish justice, freedom, and order.
Economics: a stewardship of property. God owns everything, but we have a sub-ownership.
2. Secular Humanism
Secular Humanism starts with the concept of materialism. It showed up in the renaissance, with followers calling themselves Christian Humanists. They loved the Bible, especially New Testament. They wanted to help their neighbor, the poor, etc. But they didn’t like the church structure. They said "We’ll go out and help people because Christ said to do that."
The secular aspect came in when people later said, "We really like this humanism thing. We want to help people, but we don’t think you do it because of God. We don’t think there is a God. We do it because we feel like we’ve evolved to a higher level as humans. The motivation is to be a better person, not because God said so."
The philosophers of this movement were Spencer, Darwin, Dewey, and Kinsey.
Philosophy: Naturalism. Everything is natural. There is one level, the material world (no spiritual aspect). All ideas, feelings, visions, and inspiration come from the physical workings of the brain. Everything in the world can be understood by understandable physical laws.
Theology: Atheism, i.e. there is no God
Ethics: Ethical relativism. Right and wrong is relative to the situation, to what’s happening. There is no absolute right and wrong.
Psychology: monistic self-actualization. You will become whatever you decide to become. You have to be in touch with what’s right for you at the given moment.
3. Material Humanism / Marxism
Source: Hegel, Marx, Lenin, Engels
Philosophy: Dialectical Materialism, which preaches that you have a Thesis (some idea), then an antithesis (an opposing idea), then a synthesis. In other words, there is one idea, then another opposing it, and from the opposition of the two ideas, another idea is born. The materialism aspect means that the world is all material. There is no spiritual aspect to man or the world.
Theology: Atheism
Ethics: Proletariat (the working class) Morality; anything is moral if it helps the Proletariat. Anything that hurts the Proletariat is wrong. Stealing, killing, are great and fine if they help the Proletariat.
Science: Punctuated evolution, meaning every once in a while there is a huge quantum leap. There are long normal periods and then a spurt, and we just happen to be at the end of a long normal period so of course we can’t find evidence of macro-evolution ("evolution that results in relatively large and complex changes (as in species formation)").
Psychology: Pavlovian behavioralism. You can condition people to do what you want them to do.
Sociology: Abolition of home, church and state. People help others naturally, they don’t need the state to make them do it. Let’s get rid of this attachment to family because it is controlling – the husband controls things. Let’s center all control in one entity, the world dictatorship.
Law: Positive law. ("law established or recognized by governmental authority.").
Politics: New world order, global government, from the top down, an international global dictatorship. You don’t need freedom if someone is taking care of you and you’re happy. People fight for freedom instead for security and happiness, which is wrong. You should fight for security and happiness.
Economics: Socialism/communism.
4. Post Modernism
Source: Hobbes, Neitsche. Payne, Rand, Rothbard, and Rordie
Phylosophy: Pragmatism; whatever works (not what’s right). Let’s get results.
Theology: Individualism, libertarianism, capitalism, non-religious self law. I’m God. I make the law. I’m in it for me. What I know for sure is that there are things I want, and I’m going to get them. What’s in it for me? Humanitarianism and philanthropy are completely out.
Ethics: Skepticism
Science: Quantum chaos indeterminacy. It’s all chaotic. You can’t know, it doesn’t really matter, don’t worry about it.
This world-view is more prevalent than the other three, especially in the workplace.
Psychology: Existentialism ("a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for his acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.")
Sociology: Hegemony ("preponderant influence or authority over others") and counter hegemony. In other words, it’s good to try to dominate something. Society is made up of monopolies. If you want to be successful in an area, monopolize it. If someone else is being successful in it, topple their monopoly.
Law: Non-religious natural and self law. They believe in natural law as long as there’s no religion in it. Self law is: we govern ourselves. You have to agree with things you’ve submitted yourself to, but you don’t necessarily have to submit yourself to it.
Politics: Libertarianism and "superman." Libertarianism says let people be free, if they hurt someone, the hurt party has recourse. Let people choose as long as they don’t infringe on someone else.
German 19th century philosopher Nietsche said there is a God, the God is "superman." Everyone lives a miserable life, but once in a while a man steps up and becomes a God, like Caesar, Alexander, i.e. all conquerors. The Post-Modernists approve of that, i.e. it’s OK or good to be a "superman." True libertarianism lets a guy rise as high as he wants to go, oppressing others.
Economics: Randian capitalism (based on Ayn Rand’s novels), whatever capitalism you can get away with. This school approves of the super-capitalist taking advantage of others.
5. Cosmic Humanism
Confucian, Hindu, Buddhist and new age counterparts
Theology: Pantheism, many gods, and panantheism (everything is god)
Philosophy: Connectivity, everything is connected, nothing is disconnected
Ethics: Inner relativism, there is a right and a wrong, and I have to get in touch and figure out what that is.
Science: Evolutionary consciousness, what evolves is levels of consciousness, over time humanity evolves to higher levels of consciousness. Gene Roddenberry was coming from this in the Star Trek Next Generation TV series.
Psychology: Co-effective consciousness, this is the concept that we are all inter-connected. My psychology is impacted by yours.
