Sathfilms

A Coherent Worldview « Minds 2 Mentes

The author of this blog, Krista posted the above link to her blog in a comment here regarding my reference to Zacharias and the four basic questions of life. On her post, this explains the gist of the four basic questions of life:

“Ravi Zacharias spoke about the requirements of a coherent worldview. He said there are 4 questions a worldview must answer: the questions of origins, meanings, morality and destiny. The question of origins deals with how life came about. The question of meanings deals with the question of why life came about. The question of morality deals with questions of what is right and wrong and how we know the difference. The question of destiny deals with the question of the ultimate destinations of life.”

Four very valid questions. It’s quite obvious that many people think about these four questions and not get any answers, and subsequently try and find the answers. Krista continues, and says:

“Everyone has a worldview. The question is, is your worldview coherent? Does it answer the above questions? If you chose to believe in a certain system, be it religious or non-religious, it must answer these questions in order to be relevant, and it must be relevant in order to be correct. You may have an answer to the question of destiny, but if you do not have an answer to the question of morality then your worldview has a hole in it; there is then something about the way you look at the world that doesn’t make sense, because you have not provided an answer for one of the basic questions of life.

“What is your worldview? Is it coherent? And does it satisfactorily answer these questions in a way that makes sense and reflects reality? If not, it may be time to look for a new way to look at the world that is logical and realistic.”

Yes, everyone has a way they see life, however does their “worldview” need to be coherent? Life is confusing. Why does a worldview need to answer those four questions? Perhaps we are here to get a better understanding of those questions, and the answers aren’t merely found in a scripture. Your faith tells you the answers you have are correct. Why MUST a worldview answer those questions? I am asking anyone, not just the author of the particular blog. How does having an answer, which may be correct for all four of those questions make the answers defintely correct? Why must a view answer those immensely difficult questions to have relevance? Relevance to what? A worldview with logical, or relevant answer to those questions does not mean it is correct.

I could say we came into existence because an alien race far, far away (really far away), created the life on our planet including the human race; then we exist because it was an experiment to see how various species especially those with two legs, who can be conditioned, with an ability to think somewhat logically, but with no idea of their origin, will progress; we know what is right and wrong because we have been given the ability to use our brains, conscience and the analysis of experience (ours and others’) if we can merely break away from some of our conditioned ideas in our minds; and we will ultimately die when our heart stops and our brains stops functioning, and then, there will be nothing but silence. Now, I must admit, it’s not from an old scripture, and it’s flawed, but I’m sure, given the time, I could twist it enough so that it makes enough logical sense to oppose other answers to the four questions. To use your terms, it reflects reality as much as the heaven and hell idea where our actions and good lives really mean nothing if we don’t accept THE single doctrine. And it’s as coherent as the idea that some almighty entity – God – created us. Nonetheless, I don’t think it’s correct.

I can’t see how answering those questions validate a worldview any more than a worldview that is searching for those answers, or even a worldview that disregards those questions. Having answers that may or may not be correct does not validate anything. It’s your faith that allows it to be relevant and correct for you, and then your faith that suggests to you that the answers you have are absolutely correct for everyone. These ideas are definitely interesting to explore.

You ask why a worldview must be coherent. Would you like a coherent answer to your question or not?

Comment by Krista Dominguez May 31, 2007 @ 11:12 am

Reply

Thanks for the comment (reply). Now, Are you trying to answer my question with another question? By asking “why does a worldview need to be coherent” I’m suggesting that it doesn’t have to be coherent in the manner you are suggesting. Why not a questioning worldview? I do not understand how you think having coherent answers that are logical makes them the correct answers. I would like a coherent answer to this question, because you are proposing that need a worldview that is coherent. I have coherently stated why I don’t think it makes a difference, and that a worldview that “answers” the four questions doesn’t really help, considering that you’re convincing yourself that the answers are actually correct. I am asking a question about a view, whilst the four questions are asking about things that are difficult, or impossible to answer! Sorry if I’m stating the obvious, but one can try and answer coherently about a view and have it be true since the “view” or “opinion” is true to the person stating it; but but coherency in a worldview is possible but it doesn’t mean it makes a difference to truth.

Perhaps we should be pursuing this conversation between the two of us, who’s views are quite different.

Comment by Arnie May 31, 2007 @ 11:40 am

Reply

A questioning worldview still requires coherence because it is questioning and seeking answers. An answer by definition must be coherent in order to have any relevance. If that answer is not true, then it has no relevance, and if it is not true and is not relevant, then it is meaningless and does not contribute to your worldview at all. I hold to the truth that absolute truth exists, and that coherence is not a matter of preference or opinion but a matter of fact. As for the four questions: When you look at the world, these are the basic questions of life. If your worldview does not answer them then the way you look at the world is either flawed or incomplete for that reason.

Comment by Krista Dominguez May 31, 2007 @ 11:55 am

Reply

I can’t agree with the underlying assumption of truth. I can give a coherent worldview regarding questioning however it does not need to follow any set formula and hence they could be “relevant.” The definitions of truth you rely on are views that i do not share. You keep saying “answers” and I keep saying that the “answers” are irrelevant, but that’s because our views differ. It contributes to my worldview in that I am searching for the answers to such questions, and it is meaningful because I don’t have the answers. I agree that my worldview is incomplete and I am happy with that, but it is not flawed in my opinion, because the incompleteness is the worldview itself.

If it’s fact to you, this conversation is really not worth the time and effort it takes to type out these responses. Considering that all other answers are not as relevant as your answers, and also not true because yours are fact and the “absolute truth” you seem to understand and hold to, what is the point of this conversation apart from supporting a view with another view?

Good luck, Krista, I’ll be sure to read your blog, but I can’t see the point of this endless cycle (and circle) of comments and responses that don’t lead to a result. We are just repeating ourselves.

Thanks for your time, and the interesting reads Feel free to reply if you feel the need

Comment by Arnie May 31, 2007 @ 12:12 pm

Reply

[...] http://sathfilms.com/2007/05/31/we-dont-have-all-the-answers/ http://sathfilms.com/2007/05/30/absolutes-are-irrelevant/ [...]

Pingback by Blog posts for Jenny and Transient Spaces « Sathfilms May 31, 2007 @ 3:05 pm

Reply