Question: What is Christianity? What is Christianity not? Is it what we do or do not do? Is it a worldview? Is it an identity? Is it a culture? Is it a kingdom? (Is it a religious denomination?) What is Christianity? What is “CHRIST” about Christianity?
Peter Carlveland Sserubidde, December 2023.
Response: We are continuing with the exploration of the question about Christianity. In the first episode of this response, we endeavoured to address what Christianity is, what it isn’t implied, and what Christ means to Christianity. These responses are not exhaustive, as at In Truth and in Spirit Well of Worship (John 4:24) Fellowship (iTiS Fellowship), we aim to provide insights and make room for God to continue His self-revelation. We will now delve into other facets of the question, building upon what we have already covered.
What is a Worldview?
Allow me to start with a quote:
“But there are some people, nevertheless—and I am one of them—who think that the most practical and important thing about a man is still his view of the universe. We think that for a landlady considering a lodger, it is important to know his income, but it is still more important to know his philosophy. We think that for a general about to fight an enemy, it is important to know the enemy’s numbers, but it is still more important to know the enemy’s philosophy. We think the question is not whether the theory of the cosmos affects matters, but whether, in the long run, anything else affects them.”
– G. K. Chesterton, Heretics, in The Complete Works of G. K. Chesterton, ed. David Dooley, vol. 1, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986), 41.
So, what is a worldview? Ken Funk provides the best summary of what a worldview is:
“A worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of Reality that ground and influence all one’s perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing. The elements of one’s worldview—the beliefs about certain aspects of Reality, are one’s:
- Epistemology: beliefs about the nature and sources of knowledge.
- Metaphysics: beliefs about the ultimate nature of reality.
- Cosmology: beliefs about the origins and nature of the universe, life, and especially man.
- Teleology: beliefs about the meaning and purpose of the universe, its inanimate elements, and its inhabitants.
- Theology: beliefs about the existence and nature of God.
- Anthropology: beliefs about the nature and purpose of man in general and, oneself.
- Axiology: beliefs about the nature of value, what is good and bad, what is right and wrong.”
Your worldview consists of each of the above seven elements, and each of these subsets of your worldview (each of these views) is highly interrelated with and affects virtually all of the others.
Categories of Worldviews
There are various types of worldviews, but the major ones can be categorized into eight:
- Monotheism: a universe created by and for an involved infinite God.
- Atheism: a world without God, with no divine presence.
- Finite Theism: a world with a finite God, where God’s influence is limited.
- Pantheism: a world that is considered God, where everything is divine.
- Panentheism: a world in God, where God encompasses and is involved in the world.
- Deism: a world created by God but left to operate on its own without divine intervention.
- Polytheism: a world with many Gods, each having its own sphere of influence.
- Henotheism: a world worshipping a single God while not actively ignoring the existence of other Gods.
There may be additional worldviews that I am not aware of, but the major classifications typically fall into two categories:
- Theism
- Naturalism
Theism encompasses worldviews that explain reality and life with the belief in an intelligent being, often considered the uncaused cause, responsible for the origin and design of everything in the universe. Christianity is an example of a theistic worldview.
On the other hand, Naturalism seeks to understand life and reality without invoking a supra-intelligent being. It often relies on scientific explanations, such as evolution, to account for the origin and development of life in the universe.
Therefore, when considering whether Christianity is a worldview, the answer is affirmative. It is a theistic worldview that provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the nature of existence, the purpose of life, and the origin of the universe.
Elements of a Proper Worldview
Dr. David Naugel wrote:
“I submit that the most important issue in any person’s life is not his or her education, career, finances, family, or friendships. Rather, the most important issue in any person’s life is that person’s worldview, because that person’s worldview guides and directs everything else, including one’s education, career, finances, family, and friendships. The worldview is the basic cause; all else is effect or result.”
Your worldview is not merely a perspective on the world, nor is it just a guide for your life; rather, it serves as a determinant of your life. It’s crucial to take the concept of a worldview seriously. The question then arises: what makes up a proper worldview? A proper worldview is characterized by its capacity to address the four fundamental questions regarding reality. These four questions revolve around:
- Origin: Where did everything come from or what is the cause?
- Problem: What is wrong, and why does it exist?
- Solution: How can the identified problems be corrected?
- Destiny: Where is each individual ultimately headed?
Christianity asserts that God, as the intelligible and purposeful uncaused cause, is responsible for the creation of everything in the universe. This intelligible being is considered by Christianity as the exclusive source of everything good and right. According to Christian beliefs, this creator brought the universe and all its contents into existence out of nothing.
Humanity is regarded as the masterpiece of this creation, created in the image and likeness of God. This implies that only humans were endowed with the capacity for choice (free will, Genesis 1:26-28; 2:17) and the intelligence to comprehend purpose (a characteristic exclusive to humanity).
The problem identified by Christianity is a cosmic foreign power, labelled as ‘Sin’ by theologians and philosophers, which is antagonistic to the intelligible purpose of God. Sin is depicted as holding all creation hostage and causing significant harm. Humanity is seen as being hostage to this power, and God’s intention is to redeem the world and humanity from its clutches. In Christianity, ‘Sin’ goes beyond mere moral failure; it represents the root cause of moral failure and other forms of failure leading to death. Just as God created everything from ‘nothingness’ or non-existence, the power of sin seeks to revert everything to ‘nothingness.’
The solution, according to Christianity, is intrinsically tied to the nature of the problem. The key to the effectiveness of many worldviews lies in how they define the problem and the corresponding solution they offer. In Christianity, the solution involves the Creator becoming a creature and experiencing vicarious death. The miraculous resurrection of this God is considered the ultimate solution, liberating the free will of humanity once again.
The Christian worldview proposes that the solution to the problem of sin, characterized by the power of death (inexistence), involves eternal life taking on human form (John 1:1–3, 14), experiencing an eternal death (Romans 6:10), and ultimately resurrecting (1 Corinthians 15:14). Through this process, inexistence is demystified, and death becomes a matter of choice.
In terms of destiny, the Christian worldview envisions a new world and a new world order for those who choose to embrace the salvation provided by this God. The destiny of those who do not subscribe to this salvation is depicted as inexistence. It’s crucial to note that Christianity does not present Heaven and Hell as eternal destinies but emphasizes a new world and a new world order for believers and eternal inexistence for non-believers.
Reflecting on how your worldview addresses the four questions of reality can reshape your understanding of the world.
God bless you.
I invoke Truth, Wisdom, and Faith (2 Timothy 2:7)
Priest Isaiah White Mutabazi Tumwine: {+256 775 822833}
iTiS WoW Fellowship {John 4:24}
Questioning to Believe, Believing to Live
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 
Thank you very much Priest Isaiah White Tumwine Mutabazi. Christianity as a WORLD VIEW is deep. In Part 1 we did see that Christianity is an IDENTITY and CULTURE. Could Christianity as a Worldview further influence the two elements?
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