Why do we buy what we buy, vote the way we vote, eat what we eat and say what we say? Why do we have the friends we have, and work and play as we do? It's our choice? Yes, but there are forces, often unseen, that shape every decision we make and every action we take. These hidden, life-shaping values and ideas are not promoted through organized religions or rival philosophies but fostered by cultural habits, lifestyles and the institutional structures of society. Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford shine a spotlight on the profound challenges to Christianity and faithful Christian living that come from worldviews that comprise the cultural soup we swim in. The authors show how to detect the individualism, consumerism, nationalism, moral relativism, scientific naturalism, New Age thinking, postmodern tribalism and salvation as therapy that fly under our radar. Building on the work of worldview thinkers like James Sire, this book helps those committed to the gospel story recognize those rival cultural stories that compete for our hearts and minds.
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"Within our worldviews are heart-orienting, mind-structuring commitments that govern each person's life. Often we pay so little attention to these commitments that they lie hidden from us. Some of these commitments clash with and corrupt our ability to live a faithful life for Christ. Wilkens and Sanford identify and unmask eight of these, showing how they affect our commitment to Christ. This work will serve as an excellent complement to my own The Universe Next Door." (James W. Sire, author with Carl Peraino of Deepest Differences )
"Like undetected germs that make us sick, there are also a variety of worldview stories that are infecting the thought and lifestyles of Christians today, yet often without their awareness. It is essentially a form of 'heart' disease caused by several lived perspectives to which the Christian community is surreptitiously but effectively exposed in the contagion of the surrounding culture. Wilkens and Sanford, as if they were physicians, analyze these 'hidden' worldviews that are causing so much affliction, and offer the remedy of a robust Christian one. This book is good medicine for a serious illness that is plaguing many in the church today." (David Naugle, author of Worldview: The History of a Concept, and professor of philosophy, Dallas Baptist University )
"This is an unusual book in two regards that commend it for the beginner in worldview thinking. First, it is not about theistic apologetics in the traditional sense, nor about worldviews philosophically developed, but about worldviews as ways of experiencing life. Eight hidden worldviews have infiltrated contemporary culture, reshaping human experience and our perceptions of life's purpose. The authors uncover the tacit assumptions, and take stock of the actual proposals in the light of insights from a variety of disciplines. They conclude by inviting the reader to develop a theistic worldview that integrates every aspect of life into a consistent whole, under the guidance of the Wesleyan quadrilateral (this is the book's second unusual regard): Scripture, tradition, reason and experience." (Arthur F. Holmes, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Wheaton College )
"Like undetected germs that make us sick, there are also a variety of worldview stories that are infecting the thought and lifestyles of Christians today, yet often without their awareness. It is essentially a form of 'heart' disease caused by several lived perspectives to which the Christian community is surreptitiously but effectively exposed in the contagion of the surrounding culture. Wilkens and Sanford, as if they were physicians, analyze these 'hidden' worldviews that are causing so much affliction, and offer the remedy of a robust Christian one. This book is good medicine for a serious illness that is plaguing many in the church today." (David Naugle, author of Worldview: The History of a Concept, and professor of philosophy, Dallas Baptist University )
"This is an unusual book in two regards that commend it for the beginner in worldview thinking. First, it is not about theistic apologetics in the traditional sense, nor about worldviews philosophically developed, but about worldviews as ways of experiencing life. Eight hidden worldviews have infiltrated contemporary culture, reshaping human experience and our perceptions of life's purpose. The authors uncover the tacit assumptions, and take stock of the actual proposals in the light of insights from a variety of disciplines. They conclude by inviting the reader to develop a theistic worldview that integrates every aspect of life into a consistent whole, under the guidance of the Wesleyan quadrilateral (this is the book's second unusual regard): Scripture, tradition, reason and experience." (Arthur F. Holmes, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Wheaton College )
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Biblical, sound, and the good kind of academic-y,
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This review is from: Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives (Paperback)
The authors share what's good and what's bad about things like consumerism, materialism, naturalism. And they do it fairly, academically, and through the lens of a biblical worldview.
If you're a follower of Jesus, you'll leave this book more solid in your faith with a desire for your whole worldview to be under Jesus' kingship. If you're not a follower of Jesus, you'll be challenged to re-examine the inconsistencies of the prevailing cultural stories that shape the worldviews of the masses today. Easily one of my favorite books that I've ever read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read,
This review is from: Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives (Paperback)
I was happy to receive Hidden Worldviews as a gift. The book walks you through 8 worldviews that shape our behaviors, Christian or non-Christian, and discusses the positives and negatives of each one. The authors wrap up the book by summarizing the Christian worldview (which they rightfully call a story, instead) and tips on how to make this work in today's society. I think it's a great introductory text for study of these worldviews. I give it 4 stars because in attempting to address so many topics, it sometimes can't go deeply enough on any given one. I suppose that's the downfall of a book that attempts to give an overview, rather than an in-depth study. Furthermore, I feel like I may know more about these worldviews, but I'm not sure the book equipped me to root them out in my own life, or add anything to my apologetics so that I might utilize what I've learned in my discussions with non-Christians.
Overall, though, I'd recommend any Christian read this, for we need to be aware of what traps we might fall into.
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book!,
By James A. Masters (ELK GROVE, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives (Paperback)
This is a well-written and concise description of several prominent views that have influenced our culture. I am using it as one of my primary resources for a high school Sunday seminar on worldviews. While James Sire's "Universe Next Door" is an excellent "catalog" of worldviews, this work focuses on those viewpoints that are "lived out" among us and have a subtle influence on our thinking.I would recommend this book to anyone interested or concerned about the influences within our lives and culture that conflict with a biblical perspective. The summaries of Christian worldview and examples of alternate beliefs are well-crafted and instructive.
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