CT 113: Critical Survey of Worldviews - Exam 1 Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the CT 113 Exam 1 Study Guide Worksheet on core worldview concepts, worldview questions, biblical metanarrative, biblical worldview foundations, and worldview formation and evaluation.

Worldview

A lens through which people see the world that covers all of life.

Presupposition

Foundational assumptions or beliefs which you think with, which may be true, partially true, or entirely false.

Presuppositions (Head)

Foundational beliefs that operate how you think.

Values (Heart)

What you love, prioritize, and consider important.

Ethics (Hands)

Actions, behaviors, and choices you make.

Interrelationship of Presuppositions, Values, and Ethics

Presuppositions shape your values, your values shape your ethics, and your ethics reinforce your presuppositions.

Comprehensive (Worldview Property)

The characteristic of a worldview meaning that it covers all of life.

Coherent (Worldview Property)

The characteristic of a worldview meaning that its beliefs, values, and presuppositions fit together logically.

Metanarrative

One big overarching story that explains all of reality—where we came from and what is wrong.

Three Broad Worldview Families

1. Naturalism, 2. Transcendentalism, 3. Theism.

Prime Reality Question

" Example claim: God exists and is the ultimate reality.

External Reality Question

"What is the nature of external reality?" Example claim: The universe is created and orderly.

Human Being Question

"What is a human being?" Example claim: Humans are made in the image of God.

Death Question

"What happens to a person at death?" Example claim: Humans either enter eternal life or eternal separation from God.

"Why is it possible to know anything at all?

Example claim: Humans can know because God created them with rational minds.

Morality Question

"How do we know what is right and wrong?" Example claim: Moral truth comes from God's character.

Meaning of History Question

"What is the meaning of human history?" Example claim: History is the unfolding of God's plan for Creation.

Creation (Biblical Metanarrative)

First movement of Scripture (Genesis 1-2): God created the world good, ordered, and purposeful; Creation is distinct from the Creator and reflects God's character.

Fall (Biblical Metanarrative)

Second movement of Scripture (Genesis 3): Humanity rebelled against God bringing sin and brokenness, affecting humanity morally, physically, intellectually, and relationally.

Redemption (Biblical Metanarrative)

Third movement of Scripture (John 3:16): God initiates rescue through Jesus Christ; in Christ God is revealed and humanity is redeemed through his sacrifice.

Restoration (Biblical Metanarrative)

Fourth movement of Scripture (Revelation 21-22): God will restore creation and bring all things to their intended purpose; humanity is destined for an eternal future and creation will be renewed.

Three Sources of Revelation

The three sources through which God reveals himself and his purposes: 1. Creation, 2. Scripture, 3. Jesus.

Biblical Claim: God

God is a personal, triune being who ordains history and reveals himself through Christ and Holy Spirit.

Biblical Claim: Humanity

is God's special creation, created in his image and entrusted with the care of the world, but separated from God by sin.

Biblical Claim: Nature/Creation

is distinct from God, ordered, purposeful, and dependent upon God for its existence and continuation.

Ontology

The study of what is real—what exists and the nature of being.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge—how we know something real.

Pretheoretical Dimension

The dimension of worldview formation that is what we think with, not what we think about.

Accidental Worldview Formation

When your worldview forms without thinking, shaped by culture, family, and media.

Intentional Worldview Formation

When you deliberately build your worldview through study and reflection and choose it.

Test of Reason

Worldview evaluation test asking: Can the worldview be logically defended?

Test of the Outer World

Worldview evaluation test asking: Does external, observable evidence support the worldview?

Test of the Inner World

Worldview evaluation test asking: Does the worldview adequately explain everyday human experience?

Test of the Real World

Worldview evaluation test asking: How does the worldview work when lived out in real life?

Creation is distinct from the

Creator

Humanity is gods special creation created in his

Image

Humanity is separated from God by

Sin

All of creation is dependent upon god for its existence and

Continuation

Humanity is entrusted with the ______ of the world

Care