- New here? Consider Subscribing via RSS feed. It’s the best and fastest way to get content!
Following is the 4th installment of a series on Worldviews. There are seven questions presented by James W. Sire in his book, “The Universe Next Door,” which he says every worldview must answer. This book is used in many colleges for philosophy curriculum, and Sire writes from a Christian perspective. Though influenced somewhat by Sire, what I proceed to give answers to comes from my own words and thoughts. No quotes. If you want Sire’s opinion, let me know and I’ll provide that for you.
1. What is prime reality⎯the really real?
Prime reality is the very absolute, consistent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Creator/Redeemer God (YHWH)—immanently experienced through His equally eternal Son, Jesus (Ye’shua). Since God is the really real, everything He creates is therefore real also, including consciousness. Therefore, while consciousness is not prime reality, it is nonetheless really real⎯not an illusion⎯though entirely contingent upon prime reality, which is God.
2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
External reality is the creation of God. All matter is a product of the will of God in creation, which was altogether good (the will). God had purpose in bringing something into existence that had otherwise never existed. Since, therefore, creation was not without purpose, it remains with purpose due to God’s unchanging character. Thus, God will fulfill His purpose in creating. Creation (other consciousness and spiritual matters apart from us [objective] are therefore of the same category), by necessity, is ultimately for His good pleasure and glory alone.
3. What is a human being?
Human beings are the quintessential creation of God. They are made in His image yet remain contingent upon Him (that is, in His likeliness; His character). For this reason, the human is the climax of creation. By possessing characteristics like their Creator (mind, reason, will, emotions, personal, creativity, etc.), humans are the best creation for understanding purpose and their Creator who purposed them. Thus, the human being is primarily designed to have a relationship with its Creator (again, through the person of Ye’shua) and subsequently, others.
4. What happens to a person at death?
At death, a person is faced with the ultimate dilemma: he will be held accountable for the life that was given him by God, on the basis of the rejection or acquiescence of Jesus. The person does not cease to exist, rather he will spend eternity in one of two places: (1) either with his Creator (the acquiescence of Jesus)⎯the ultimate substantiation of hope, meaning, and purpose⎯or (2) without his Creator (the rejection of Jesus)⎯eternal hopelessness.
5. Why is it possible to know anything at all?
Since people are made in the image of their Creator, they possess attributes similar to His. An omniscient Creator produces a human with cognitive ability; this person can then reason, judge, evaluate, learn, and disperse information. Since this person is a creation of the Creator, his epistemology is also that of revelation—both general and specific. Man is, however, bound with limitation⎯the creation is always less intelligent than the Creator. Therefore, the person’s epistemology is mainly gained through his faculty of the senses⎯sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing⎯which, is often times more prepositional than descriptive.
6. How do we know what is right and wrong?
Because persons are created in the image of God⎯the only truly just, holy, perfectly good, loving, omnicompetent being⎯they, though limited, experience similar traits; having an inherent conviction, as it were, of things just, good, and loving. Since, therefore, humans are created after the genuine good nature of God, wrong can be identified.
7. What is the meaning of human history?
God will ultimately fulfill His purpose of choosing to create. Humans, being the climax of creation, are the primary recipients of this purpose. Human history, therefore, is the sequential instances of events by which God interacts with creation by drawing humans unto Himself and inviting them to experience the ultimate glorification of His Son, Jesus, and the subsequent glorification of themselves.
- New here? Consider Subscribing via RSS feed. It’s the best and fastest way to get content!
 300x250.jpg)
excellent
Jonathan, it's magnificent! In some point I'd make a suggestion about the word "similar" in the first paragraph of the fifth point due the scope of its meaning, but totally cleared in the sixth and subsequent points. Jonathan, I believe it should be moved from a post to a more distinct place in the blog. It's really great.
Jorge, thanks for the comment. Could you help me understand a little more about the word "similar?"
Thanks, bro.
Never mind Jonathan. I was just lost in translation. In Portuguese, the connotative charge of the word "similar" weighs more to "equal" or “identical” than to "comparable". Sorry!
Right on. Portuguese, eh? Wow, I suppose you are fluent in both languages, no?
No, no way. I'm only fluent in my native Portuguese. I speak a bit of French (I used to speak it better in my childhood as my great-grandmother was French, a bit o Italian, trying to learn German and I intend to learn Spanish in the future. Though my other great-grandmother was Chinese, I'd never dare to try to learn Mandarin or any other Chinese dialect.
Jonathan, I'm always terrified when I write something in English. When we commit mistakes in spoken English, the wind takes it away, but in a comment like this, my mistakes are exposed forever. And there are many kinds of fears: grammar mistakes, orthography, etc, but the worse is to convey a wrong idea, or a truncated idea (as just happened). These kinds of mistakes are embarrassing in most of situations, but when it comes to theology, when we are talking about the word of God, it’s absolutely dangerous. That’s why I’m always frightened. When I write something, I read it over and over again, and in the end, I’m still afraid. So, I'd like to ask you to forgive me sometimes, but always correct me, please.
Sorry for this testament!
haha. No worries here brother. Your English is fantastic!
When ever you get that blog of yours up, be sure to let me know! I can always use a translator!
My favorite line: "the human is the climax of creation."
Not because that magnifies man above God in some way, but it magnifies man within the context God's revealing Himself, magnifying Himself.
Good point. This is exactly why I included in point 7, the "subsequent glorification of themselves." We will be glorified, but only in Him, and lesser than Him. But to be part of His glorification is to be glorified with Him. A bit elusive for my comprehension, but I think I can apprehend; in other words, I can "take hold" of it, but not fully understand. Much like the triune nature of God.
Yes, but what personal commitments are consistent with this worldview?