Personhood an Interdisciplinary Look at the Individual

¶ … person within the Christian worldview. Specifically it will discuss technology, the environment, and the media as it relates to my personal Christian worldview. As noted in this course, understanding a worldview can help a person understand other people and all their roles in today's society. Today's culture is broad, and influenced by a variety of sources, from scientific to religious, and they combine to create a contemporary Christian worldview in others and myself. Personally, my worldview is one of balance between my Christian beliefs and scientific study and analysis, which may be fairly common for a modern Christian worldview.

First, it is necessary to define worldview and what it is. A worldview encompasses every aspect of life, so understanding it is crucial in decision-making and living life to the fullest. It is really a wide-ranging perception of the world around us, formed using a Christian viewpoint. In other words, it is the "big picture" of the world, combined with my own Christian beliefs. Of course, there are many other types of worldview, from the naturalistic worldview, to a secular worldview, and each type of worldview views concepts differently. No matter what a person's worldview is, their worldview is based on three different questions -- Who am I and why am I here?, what is wrong with the world?, and how can we fix it? Those are the questions I will attempt to answer in this paper, as well as defining my own personal view of the world through Christian eyes.

I happen to believe that a worldview can combine different aspects of these worldviews, but still remain Christian in nature. A worldview is important because it defines how we live our lives, how we view the world around us, and it is the basis for decisions in our lives. Many of these decisions are extremely important, such as who am I in the universe?, how do I feel about science, technology, and the soul?, and what is my stand on abortion and euthanasia. A comprehensive worldview is necessary to answer these questions, but even more important, understanding your own worldview is vital in answering these questions and making up your mind about important and controversial issues.

The Environment and My Worldview

According to much scientific research, one of the biggest issues facing the world today is climate change (or global warming), and I have asked myself how that fits in with my Christian worldview. I know many Christians do not believe that global warming is human caused, and that humankind is created to be a steward to the Earth and its resources, and humankind is much more important than the Earth, not the other way around. However, there are Christians who do believe in the scientific evidence of climate change, and there are even organizations formed for Christians to join and explore the spiritual aspects of working to help the planet. One, the Evangelical Climate Initiative, notes in its' "About us" section of their Web site, "That same drive which compels us to take the Gospel to a hurting world brings us together with others of like mind to pray and to work to stop global warming" (Editors, 2009). I believe that science does show a trend in global warming, and like the Climate Initiative, I believe that it is our duty to stop suffering in a compassionate way, and that global suffering will be a result if the predictions about global warming are correct, and so, I support this Initiative in my worldview, and support its goals.

That being said, I understand the position of other Christians, and I respect their position and their right to their beliefs on this subject, even if they differ from my own. I believe it is our duty to protect the planet that God created, and to make it better, and be better stewards of what God made for us. In addition, I think about "what would Jesus do?" In this context. Jesus ended suffering for the poor and the hungry, he healed the sick, and he preached goodness and love for everyone. Another writer notes, "In Matthew 25, Christ declares that one's failure to feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, house the stranger, clothe the naked, or visit the sick and imprisoned is a failure to minister directly to Him" (Gibson, 2004). I believe if Jesus was faced with global warming today, that he would work tirelessly to avoid it, and ask his followers to do the same, because he cared about the world we live in, along with the people who inhabit it.

It also seems that God or the prophets have warned us about global warming in the Bible. For example, Matthew 24:7 talks about what will occur on Earth before Christ's second coming and that includes references to world wars, famines, and other calamities. These are already occurring around the world since the 20th century, and they continue to occur, which could be a prediction that civilization is near its end. In addition, Leviticus 26:19-20 says, "And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: and your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits" (Holy Bible). This sounds much like God has predicted global warming and the other calamities that will occur because of it, and that it may be inevitable that it occurs.

As far as the universe and Earth's creation, which certainly relate to this topic, I do not believe that Genesis 1 can be taken completely literally. I do certainly believe that God created the heavens, the universe, and the planets, and I believe he did indeed create them in seven days. However, it is impossible to know what a "day" is to God, since he is eternal and he is wise and careful in his creations. I believe that one of God's "days" could be millions of years, and very wisely he allowed the Earth to grow and change through time. A sort of evolution, to be sure, but one created by God's hand. This also ties in to my worldview on the environment, because I do believe God created a perfect world, that we sinned and ruined it, and that we do have a way for resurrection and redemption. I believe that this perfect world that God created for us has been harmed by humankind, and that as Christians, we have a responsibility to try to return it to a more perfect, "Godlike" state, as it was when he first created it and made it perfect for us.

I also believe that he created humans the same way, and that the remains of Neanderthal man and other prehistoric beings were the precursors to Adam and Eve, when God created his final, "perfect" creations that would be the model for us all. They could be called his "practice" creations to ensure he got everything right by the time he created the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. This explains scientific discoveries, but it also explains how God managed to create such perfect specimens all at once. God had time to work out problems, just as we all work out problems in our daily lives, and he had time to reach perfection, too.

Science, Medicine and Education

The scientific community often seems to be at odds with the Christian worldview, because they base their information on solid facts, not the soul or spirituality. I understand that, but I think they ignore the relationship between spirituality and knowledge. There is a direct relationship between the mind, brain, body, and soul, and they are what people have that helps them interact in society and decide their beliefs. I also believe that the body and the soul must both exist, because without one, there is no other. I think the person in society is very precious, and that the person is not really taken into account in much scientific and medical study, and I feel that is wrong. For example, scientists often do not recognize life after death and the resurrection, and most medical facilities do not, either. I believe science is wrong about this and that when the person dies, they go into the light, and emerge on the other side in Heaven, to serve the Lord and live in Paradise.

That, of course, leads into a discussion of medical practices and genetic intervention. I believe the body is sacred, but that surgery and medicine can help it be better, and that these treatments can help people live longer, stay healthier, and enjoy life more. The ultimate goal is to reach Eternity, but that does not mean Christians must not live long, satisfying lives here on Earth. Truly living well and sharing their beliefs and spirituality with others can have a profound affect on people's lives, and we have many duties to carry out here before we leave this place for a better place. I do believe that medical treatments can help people keep from suffering from terrible diseases, too, and that they are necessary for the well-being of everyone.

I do not believe, however, that all types of medical intervention are acceptable. I do not believe in genetic intervention, because I believe that is taking medicine too far, and doctors and researchers are trying to play "God." I also do not believe in the way they are obtaining many of their genetic materials (from stem cells and umbilical cord blood, for example), and I do not think we should be funding this type of research. I understand that the goals of genetic intervention are to end suffering from some terrible diseases and save lives, but I do not approve of the methods or the practices, and I cannot support genetic intervention in any form.

As for advances in medicine, I do not think it is possible to ever alleviate all suffering, because humankind is made to suffer for our sins, and this is why so many of us suffer in death. I think that medicine should do whatever it can to make people as comfortable as possible, and they should try to save lives whenever they can, but in the terminally ill, when there is no hope, I believe that the people should have the right to die with dignity, and if that includes withholding treatment, then they should do that. I think the limits should be that the medical profession should not save lives when there is no hope, or it simply prolongs pain and suffering, and if that is the patient's wishes. I do not think it is euthanasia to withhold help when it can be given, I think that it is actually more compassionate to recognize the wishes of the patient, and their desire not to suffer any more. That is why so many patients sign Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders when they enter the hospital. We all must die at some point, and prolonging that and making the patient suffer seems cruel and unusual punishment, somehow. It seems that the medical profession takes saving lives very seriously, but they take it too far when they give treatment where treatment will not cure the patient, but only add to their overall anguish and pain.

As for achieving pregnancy, there is much that couples can do to have children, including visiting experts in fertility that can help them conceive. I understand that it is important for parents who want children to attempt anything they think is possible, but there are limits where Christian couples should go. Surrogate mothers, artificial wombs, test-tube babies, and artificial insemination just seem to be taking the problem to another level that is totally out of God's hands, and they should not be utilized. If a couple cannot conceive, perhaps it is God's will that they not have children. There may be any number of reasons for this, and they should pray for guidance and understanding. Perhaps their mission is to adopt children, or take care of foster children, because these are children that need the love of support of Christian parents just as much as natural children. Science has created many ways to deal with infertility, but they are too unnatural to blend with a Christian lifestyle, in my thinking.

I believe that science can blend Christianity with discovery, and this applies to education, as well. Two authors write, "This does not mean that psychology, sociology, English literature, or anthropology (etc.) are ever abandoned as disciplines, but it does mean that their work is critically assessed and interpreted, and that the finest Christian scholars offer a Christian rendering of each such discipline" (Schmeltekopf & Vitanza, 2006, p. 33). Thus, Christians can develop their worldview with an eye to science and learning, but they must interpret it with a Christian outlook, and that is what this worldview is attempting to manage and uncover.

Finally, there is certainly a place for gender and sexuality in God's eyes. He created man and woman, and they are certainly not the same. Women should be proud of their gender and sexuality, because they are the nurturers and the mothers, and they are the glue that holds the family together. Without women, there would be no children and no families. Men should be proud of who they are too, and they should not be afraid to be strong, but they should not be afraid to admit they can be weak, too, and need the help of God in living their lives. God created two genders, and he created them in his own likeness, so people should be proud of who they are and where they came from. Another writer states, "In a word, man has been loved into existence by God, formed in the very likeness of God and deliberately designed as male and female" (Wishloff, 2004). God made us different for a reason, and that reason is to raise families and create good homes for them, and we should all remember God's purpose and his intentions for us when he created us.

However, I do not believe that sexuality in the deviant forms is what God intended. People believe they are "born" gay or lesbian, but I do not think that is true, I think it is a learned, deviant behavior, and that it can be unlearned with help and guidance. If God did create these people, he did it because of our sins on Earth, as a punishment or a reminder of how far we have fallen. I believe that marriage is a sacred bond, and should only be between a man and a woman, as well, and that only heterosexual couples should have children.

Technology and My Worldview

The 21st century is the most technological age in history. Cell phones, MP3 players, video games, HD television, films, music, the Internet -- technology goes on and on, and just about everyone uses this technology regularly, so the technology and the media have an increasingly important place in our lives, and they influence us dramatically. This technology has literally made the world a smaller place because you can communicate with anyone in a split second via a phone call or the Internet, and so, the world does not seem as big as it did even a decade or two ago. That has helped our worldview in that it shows that people around the world are basically the same as we are, and want many of the same things in life. It shows our differences too, and our differences in beliefs and society, as well. It has altered our worldview because it has made many more things possible, like communication and technology, and it has given us a bigger glimpse into other cultures and their lifestyles. However, it has created walls, too, because people "hide" behind technology instead of interacting face-to-face, so it has isolated people and could cause them to have an isolated worldview, as well.

In the future, technology could isolate us even further. Why attend church when you can attend "virtual" church online, or watch Catholic Mass on Sunday television? Why leave your home and commute when you can work from your home office? Why travel when you can watch travel DVDs that are remarkably lifelike on your big screen HDTV? Technology is making our lives easier, but it is making our lives more complicated, as well. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology, but there is something wrong when it gets in the way of normal, everyday life, and when it consumes you so much that you cannot do anything or enjoy anything else. Technology can never take the place of a walk in the park, a spiritual encounter with your pastor or congregation, or an important occasion, like a wedding or a birth. There are some things that technology cannot accomplish, and we should not rely so heavily on technology that we no longer have time to "smell the roses" and enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life.

The Arts, Media, and Modern Culture

I believe there is a place in a Christian worldview that supports the arts, media, and culture, but that much of contemporary art and media is far too permissive and adult in nature, and it does not have a place in my personal worldview. For example, television, especially cable television, is extremely permissive, in both language and situations, and that is not appropriate for everyone. People swear on HBO, they show sexual situations, they show very violent films and shows, and no one complains, they accept it and even approve of it. I think the media is far too permissive, and that it has gone excessively far over the line of what is acceptable and wholesome. Even national TV is far too permissive with situations and language, and most of it does not have a place in the Christian worldview, because it does not express Christian values or ideals.

As for the arts, there are many that are quite appropriate for a Christian worldview, such as Christian music, art displays, concert classical music, and wholesome entertainers, but there are many artists who use their art to shock and incense the people, and have no Christian values. For example, there are artists who exploit and celebrate homosexuals and nakedness, and others who even strike out at religion. One example is Robert Mapplethorpe, the artist who openly celebrated homosexual men, and raised questions about where art-funding money was being spent. That is only one example, and while I believe these artists do have a right to express themselves, I do not think works like these belong in any Christian worldview, or frankly, in any worldview, because they are so far away from Christian ideals they do not belong in society.

As for modern culture, I think it has become far too permissive and liberal, and that many people no longer even think of Christian values when they live their lives. People have become spoiled and selfish, they are very self-adsorbed, and there is no longer an ethic of caring about and helping others in their worldview. I think that Americans especially have become extremely greedy and adsorbed with possessions and money, and how they appear to others, that it is causing society to sink into a whirlpool of excess and vanity, and that our culture supports that in a wide variety of ways. Society in general is youth-oriented, and older people are not valued, people want to look young at any cost, and they want the status of high-priced cars, big homes, and designer clothes, when none of these things really matter. People are obsessed with "things," and not with what makes them a good or decent individual, and I think that is largely because these people do not have a Christian worldview. Instead, they have a very narrow worldview that only includes their needs and wants. I think that when Armageddon comes, these people will be extremely surprised and disappointed when they are left behind.

I think an appropriate response to culture, media, and the arts is to be wary of all the inappropriate content, and to utilize common sense when interacting with media, the arts, and a very permissive and open society. There are things that are simply not appropriate for family or Christian values in the media and in our culture, and you have to watch out for those in order to keep them from influencing you and your family. I will try to monitor media and the arts for my children when I have a family, and I will attempt to keep some aspects of the media, such as sexual content, violence, and cursing, out of my home and my life. I will attempt to help my family by using strong family oriented content, educational content, and monitor computer use to try to use the right media that promotes Christian values rather than permissive and inappropriate values that are portrayed in so much of the media today.

What Is My Worldview?

My worldview has to be different from other worldviews, because I am a unique person with my own ideas and thoughts, as are everyone else around me. Therefore, my worldview has to be different from others. Two writers put that very well. They write, "Further, does the Christian faith, either in Scripture or in church history, have only one worldview, or is its universality seen precisely in its amazing adaptability to many worldviews?" (Schmeltekopf & Vitanza, 2006, p. 57). My worldview, as this paper shows, is moderate in some areas and conservative in others, and I think that is true of most people in their worldview. There must be tolerance in our worldview, especially if we are true Christians, and there must be the freedom to understand differences and that differences are actually what can bring people together and make them understand each other despite their differences.

My worldview is conservative in some medical areas, as this paper has shown, but moderate in science in some areas, like climate change. My worldview is conservative in family matters, marriage, and commitment, and it is conservative as I deal with the influence of the arts and media on Christian values. My worldview is uniquely my own, and it does not represent the values of anyone else, only myself, and so, it has an important, even vital, influence on everything I do throughout my life, which is why it is so important that I fully comprehend my worldview. It will influence countless decisions throughout my life, and it comforts me to know that I understand it and allow it to influence and enhance my life.

I believe that any Christian worldview has to include tolerance, pluralism, and multiculturalism, because Jesus preached to love everyone, even those who do you wrong, and he gave his life for that premise. Author Gibson continues, "Believers who reach the fourth level of spiritual maturity understand that everyone, regardless of race, gender, culture, or categories of belief (Christian and non-Christian), is their neighbor" (Gibson, 2004). I agree. Any worldview that does not contain tolerance, pluralism, and multiculturalism is not really a Christian worldview, in my opinion. God taught us that he loves every man and woman, regardless of who they are, as long as they embrace him and/or repent for their sins. A truly Christian worldview recognizes diversity in others, and allows them the freedom to believe as they choose, and embraces their ability to do so.

I also agree with another writer that a Christian worldview is located directly with God. He writes, "According to a Christian worldview, since humanity bears God's image (Gen. 1:27), the source of humankind's rational and moral capacities finds location in the Creator" (Gibson, 2004). We should all act as God would act, or have us act here on Earth, and our center should be in God and his teachings. Author Gibson continues, "The source of a Christian's authority for his or her moral decisions and actions must then flow from a cognitive, emotional, and volitional commitment to further manifest God's glory" (Gibson, 2004). This is the basis of God's teachings and his sending his son here to us in sacrifice, and I think this must be an important part of any Christian worldview, no matter what form of Christianity you follow.

In addition, I believe that my worldview should include sharing my faith with others. Two writers talk about sharing their Baptist faith through education and sharing. They say, "Our members must be equipped not only to know Christ, but also to make him known; not only to receive the faith, but to reproduce it in the lives and faith of others" (Schmeltekopf & Vitanza, 2006, p. 137). I fully believe in that, and hope that my life can show my faith and perhaps influence others to seek their own faith and acceptance of God and his love.

The questions of who I am and where I am are harder to answer in the worldview context. At one end of the spectrum, I, just one believer, am a microscopic part of the spectrum, with little influence among the billions of people on the planet. However, in context, I have influence on my family, my friends, and my community, so I am important in my small spectrum, and I can work to make changes occur. Who I am is a college student with a Christian worldview, who has a lifetime to make a difference and explore ways to enrich my life and live it to the very fullest, always with Christian ideals and beliefs. Where am I is easier. I am right where I am supposed to be at this time in my life, thanks to God's plan for my life, and I need to keep that understanding that I am right where I am supposed to be, no matter what happens in my life. There will be trials and tribulations, to be sure, but I must remember that all of these are part of God's plan, and I must use my faith to deal with them.