Worldviews and Devotionals - Quiz Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key questions from Deuteronomy 30, Matthew 7, Psalm 1, Worldviews, Metanarratives, Philosophy, and Presuppositions based on the provided notes.

What two options does God set before His people in Deuteronomy 30:19–20?

Life and death (blessing and curse); choosing life means loving the Lord and obeying His commands.

Why is choosing life more than a one-time decision in Deuteronomy 30:19–20?

Because it is a daily, ongoing choice to love and obey God.

How do daily choices draw us closer to God or away from Him according to Deuteronomy 30:19–20?

Consistent love and obedience draw us closer; rebellion or neglect leads us away.

What does it mean to 'choose life' in terms of loving and obeying God?

To love the Lord with all you are and live in obedience to His commands.

How does C.S. Lewis’ quote about happiness and peace relate to choosing life?

True happiness and peace come from God alone; choosing life centers on seeking and depending on Him.

In what ways is God Himself our 'life and length of days'?

He sustains life, provides vitality, and is the source of lasting life and security.

How does the garden illustration help us understand choosing life vs. ignoring God?

The garden symbolizes life with God; neglecting Him leads to emptiness and decay.

What does it mean to be 'rooted' in God?

Having deep dependence on God, with roots that provide stability and growth.

What two builders and two foundations does Jesus describe in Matthew 7:24–25?

A wise man builds on the rock; a foolish man builds on the sand.

What do the storms represent in Matthew 7:24–27?

Life’s trials and pressures that test the strength of one’s foundation.

How does Matthew 7 connect to the idea of a worldview?

A worldview is a foundational framework; trials reveal its strength or fragility.

Why does Jesus emphasize both hearing and doing His words?

Hearing without obedience is not genuine faith; true faith manifests in action.

How is a worldview more than just intellectual beliefs?

It shapes values, practices, and daily living beyond mere ideas.

According to James Sire, how is a worldview a 'commitment expressed in a story or presuppositions'?

It’s a life-long commitment reflected in the narrative we adopt about life and the assumptions we hold.

How do our actions and habits reveal what we truly believe and love?

They demonstrate what we truly trust and worship, more than our words alone.

What happened in the 1981 Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, and how does it illustrate weak foundations?

A structural collapse due to design flaws, showing how weak foundations can lead to disaster.

Why might some worldviews look sturdy at first but collapse under pressure?

They may seem solid in theory but lack robust, ultimate foundations when tested.

How does Psalm 1 describe the two ways of life?

The righteous who delight in the law and prosper vs. the wicked who do not.

Why is there no neutral ground in life’s path according to Psalm 1?

Choices reflect allegiance to God or not, leading to distinct outcomes.

What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked in Psalm 1?

Righteous: delights in and meditates on the law; prospering like a tree. Wicked: disregards God and is unstable.

How does the tree vs. chaff image illustrate worldview outcomes?

Tree = stability, nourishment, fruit. Chaff = instability, removal.

How is a worldview more than what we say we believe?

It is evidenced by how we live and what we actually practice.

What does it mean to 'delight in the law of the Lord'?

Take pleasure in God’s instructions and choose to obey them.

How does meditation on God’s Word bring stability, nourishment, and fruitfulness?

It deepens roots, guides decisions, and produces righteous fruit.

How is Joseph’s life an example of Psalm 1’s imagery?

Joseph remained faithful to God in adversity, leading to eventual flourishing.

How does the space trajectory illustration show the importance of direction in life?

Small changes in direction accumulate over time to determine the destination.

What happens spiritually when we move closer to or further from God?

Moving toward God yields life and vitality; moving away leads to spiritual decline.

What is a worldview, and why is it important?

A framework for interpreting reality that shapes beliefs, values, and actions.

How is a worldview like glasses, a web, or a foundation?

Glasses filter perception; a web connects beliefs; a foundation supports and organizes them.

How does a worldview shape the way we see and interpret reality?

It provides the lens and rules through which we understand experiences.

Why can no worldview ever be 'neutral'?

All are grounded in presuppositions that influence interpretation.

What is a metanarrative, and what role does it play in shaping a worldview?

A big overarching story that gives meaning and guides beliefs and values.

What are the 4 major themes of the biblical metanarrative?

Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration.

What are the 5 major life questions?

Origin, Identity, Meaning, Morality, Destiny.

How does the biblical metanarrative answer these questions?

It provides purposeful answers through the framework of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

What is philosophy, and how does it relate to everyday life and beliefs?

Love of wisdom; it asks foundational questions and informs worldview.

Why does everyone 'do' philosophy, whether they realize it or not?

Everyone holds beliefs and assumptions guiding thought; philosophy is implicit.

How does philosophy relate to a person’s worldview?

Philosophy underlies and shapes the foundations and methods of a worldview.

What are the 3 main branches of philosophy?

Metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.

What is metaphysics, and what questions does it address?

Study of the nature of reality; questions about existence, being, time, space, and causation.

What is epistemology, and what does it teach about truth, knowledge, belief, and justification?

Study of knowledge; explains truth, knowledge, belief, and justification.

What is ethics, and how does it help determine right and wrong?

Study of moral values; provides criteria for judging actions and character.

What are the five major worldviews, and what do they each believe?

The notes mention five major worldviews and their beliefs but do not list them explicitly; they each offer different answers to life’s big questions.

How do these worldviews attempt to answer the five major life questions?

They provide different answers to origin, identity, meaning, morality, and destiny.

What are presuppositions?

Assumptions or beliefs taken as given that shape reasoning.

How do presuppositions shape the way we think and interpret evidence?

They bias interpretation and determine what counts as evidence.

How can presuppositions lead to different interpretations of the same evidence?

Different starting points yield different conclusions despite identical data.

Why is neutrality impossible when interpreting facts and evidence?

All interpretation is guided by underlying beliefs and commitments.

Why are presuppositions considered 'faith-based,' and how does this challenge the claim that secular people are purely rational?

All beliefs rely on faith commitments; secular rationality also rests on presuppositions.

According to Romans 1:18–21, how do people suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness, and how does this shape worldview?

They suppress truth by unrighteousness, shaping a worldview that rejects God.

How can Christians guard against self-deception in their presuppositions?

Humility, testing beliefs, engaging critique, and relying on Scripture.

What is confirmation bias, and how does it influence worldview holding?

Tendency to favor information that confirms preconceptions; ignore contrary data.

Why are people often more motivated by what they want to be true than what is logically true?

Desire, identity defense, and emotional investment can bias reasoning.

What is a rescuing device, and why is it inadequate for defending a worldview?

A tactic to shield beliefs from falsification; it fails to address core commitments.

Why do challenges to a worldview feel like personal attacks, and what does this reveal about what people worship?

Worldview underpins identity and sacred commitments; challenges feel like attacks on what is worshiped.