Worldview Basics

So what is a worldview? According to R. Wesley Hurd:

“It is one way of naming the ‘grid’ for thinking and believing that God built into every human being. It is a set of basic beliefs—about God, the world, human beings, history, death, knowing, as well as much more mundane things—that make up what a person assumes to be true. Out of one’s worldview, a person evaluates, makes decisions, and makes meaning and sense of his or her life. James Sire, whose book The Universe Next Door (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1976) is one of the most helpful on the subject of worldviews, defines a worldview as a basic set of beliefs and ‘concepts that work together to provide a more or less coherent frame of reference for all thought and action.’ (p. 16)”

—from “Me and My Worldview” by R. Wesley Hurd

You have a worldview (whether you realize it or not) and so does the publisher of the material you are considering using. You may choose to use material presented from a different worldview than your own, but it is helpful to know this in advance, especially when working with young children.

Articles

What’s Your View of the World? By Del Tackett
“What’s a Christian Worldview” and “Why is Worldview Important?”—Focus on the Family
“Worldviews & Children” by Marc Fey
“Me and My Worldview” by R. Wesley Hurd
“Helping Our Kids Stand Strong in a Changing World” by Tracy Klicka McKillop

Organizations

Worldview Academy:
Offers worldview training at weeklong camps in the summer for teens (13 and up) and Mere Christianity Worldview Weekends (for teens and adults) during the academic year.
Summit Ministries:
Founded by David Noebel, Summit Ministries provided worldview training using Noebel’s original book and worldview materials: Understanding the Times: the Religious Worldviews of Our Day and the Search for Truth. The ministry provides Summit Leadership Seminars, two-week intensive worldview training for teens and also Summit worldview Weekends. Information about worldview training is available through Summit Ministry of American Family Policy Institute.
The Wilberforce Forum for Cultural Renewal:
The Wilberforce Forum, founded by Charles Colson, offers occasional Wilberforce Weekends, designed to promote Christian worldview. Wilberforce Forum is a Christian worldview institute affiliated with Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Focus on the Family Institute
- The Truth Project
World Views of the Western World by David Quine:
A biblical worldview approach to history (the biblical worldview is the gauge against which all ideas are evaluated). An integrated study of philosophy/theology, literature, art, music, government, economics, and science.
God’s World News
Note: HSLDA members receive PerX discount on this and some of our other suggested resources.