A “worldview” is a set of assumptions—an outlook about ultimate issues like God’s existence (or non-existence), truth, right and wrong, human nature, and what happens at death.  Some people examine and choose their worldview, while others tend to “absorb” the worldview of their peers and/or the media without really consciously evaluating it.

Worldviews are related to,  but different than, religions. For example, while many Eastern religions share the same basic worldview of Pantheism, their practices and rituals can vary widely (Hinduism, Zen Buddhism).

While all religions have a worldview,  not all worldviews are religious. For example, Naturalism is a worldview (that the material world is all that exists), but is normally not religious at all. Atheism is a subset of Naturalism.

While on the surface many religions appear to be saying similar things, when you look at the underlying worldview, they are often profoundly different. For example, in Theism, there is a conscious, personal afterlife; while in Pantheism there is a dissolving of individual personality.

go to worldviews presentations   from Central Teaching

go to worldviews class materials