Christian Worldview, Part II – Defining Our Terms

What exactly is a worldview? The definition I think is most helpful comes from the late Greg Bahnsen. Bahnsen says, "A worldview is a network of presuppositions that are not tested by natural science and in terms of which all experience is related and interpreted." Now, this is a formal definition and it has some pretty loaded technical language, but if we break it down I think you’ll find that it’s not as complicated as it might first appear.

First, notice that a worldview is a network of presuppositions. When we speak of a presupposition in relation to a particular worldview, we are speaking of a foundational belief in terms of which all experience is related and interpreted. For example, there are those who have the presupposition that the natural world is all that exists. This is a foundational presupposition about the nature of ultimate reality. Ultimately, such a person would maintain, reality is composed of matter in motion—that’s it. And since this presupposition spells out the nature of ultimate reality—a category about which we must believe something if we are to say anything—then this presupposition is one of the foundational beliefs of a network of beliefs that makes up this individual’s worldview.

Also note that I am referring to the presuppositions which make up a worldview as a “network” of presuppositions. The word “network” connotes the idea that there is some kind of coherence or cohesiveness to the various presuppositions that make up a worldview. So, for example, if you hold the presupposition that the natural world is all that exists, then you would not also hold the presupposition that ethics are transcendent and based on the character of God. Obviously, if you believe that the natural world is all that exists, then you don’t believe in God or any kind of transcendent or immaterial reality. Rather, you would likely believe that ethics is relative. The reason for this is that a worldview is a network of presuppositions that is more or less coherent.

Note in Bahnsen's definition that the presuppositions which make up one’s worldview are not tested by natural science. If there is something which serves as the basis by which a presupposition is accepted or rejected, then that thing is foundational to the presupposition. However, remember that our presuppositions are our most foundational beliefs. Presuppositions are beliefs we accept as true apart from any overarching criteria. They are often ingrained in us through our life experiences, cultures, education, upbringing, etc. And they serve as the overarching criteria by which we understand everything else.

Lastly, note that a worldview is something in terms of which all experience is related and interpreted. As I said in my blog yesterday, human beings are not neutral. We all interpret things in light of what we believe. Our worldview, then, consists of our most foundational beliefs and is the lens through which we understand all of our other beliefs, all of our thinking, and all of our experiences.