Worldview: It's What You've Got

The term worldview sounds somewhat self-explanatory. And it is. It’s the way each of us views the world around us.

Each of us interprets reality through our own lens. That lens is colored by our experiences, our culture, our biology, our social network, the books we’ve read, the family we've grown up with, the coffee we did or didn’t drink this morning, and thousands of other variables that, consciously or unconsciously, actively or passively, influence us.

Again, this seems pretty straightforward. And it is.

Yet, on occasion, I do run into folks who find this whole bowl of chili problematic. They say things like “I don’t have a worldview” or “we should all have a worldview based on science.”

Which, of course, is silly.

So, when I heard Dr. Jordan Peterson talking about it on The Rubin Report, I got pretty excited.

Here are two brief tidbits Dr. Peterson brought up concerning worldview that I hope you find helpful (and yes, I did write about this same interview earlier this week. Twice. This is the last one, I promise):

1. Everyone has a worldview, and “science” isn’t an option.
2. Worldview is functional and largely unconscious.

Everyone has a worldview, and “science” isn’t an option

An open field is not self-evident. Just looking at the field doesn’t tell you what to do with it. Are you going to walk through it? If so, are you going to walk from one side and go out another? Or are you going walk in circles and come back out the same way you went in?

It depends on what your goal is.

Science is about determining the best way to accomplish your goal. But it cannot give you the goal.

Worldview is functional and largely unconscious

Seeing isn’t really seeing without a functional response. When they first starting developing robotics in the 1960’s, they found out that giving a robot sight was incredibly more complex than they ever imagined. Seeing, they realized, was really about mapping the world to your potential actions. It’s more functional than cognitive. There are even nerves in your eyes that bypass the cognitive parts of your brain and go directly to your motor cortex. (think cats and cucumbers)

Think about how many things your mind automatically filters out during the day. There are a lot of things you see than you don’t notice. You mind does this because it only wants to show you things that are relevant – things that might lead to action.

Worldview is similar. We can be aware of it – there are certain things that come up which cause us to think critically – but most of the time we are not.

Reign in your worldview

I believe that, in one sense, Christianity is about realization. It’s about moving our worldview from the unconscious recesses of our minds to the forefront of our thoughts. From being a passive person just riding the waves of mortal life to an active, self-actualized person with clear goals that have eternal implications.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God...” - Romans 12:2

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine…” - Ephesians 4:14

Or, in other words, God wants to us have eyes that see.

“Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?” - Mark 18:18

“The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” - Psalm 19:8

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” - Ephesians 1:18