This is a book seemingly written for seminary students, but certainly applicable and understandable for any person who desires to understand the cultural world around us. The authors define and discuss 9 different cultural worldviews: Individualism, Consumerism, Nationalism, Moral Relativism, Scientific Naturalism, Postmodern Tribalism, Salvation by Therapy, and (finaly) a Christian Worldview.
What is remarkable about this book is that it is not really about defining and defeating non-Christian worldviews. Instead, it is written practically, with the understanding that many people incorporate aspects of each of these worldviews into life without realizing it. As such, the authors want to help us understand that our worldviews are not something that we choose, like choosing bacon instead of ham for breakfast. Instead, we aquire a worldview in a much more organic way as we are influenced by the stories and people all around us all the time. Their basic premise then is that even strong Christians may not have a strong Christian worldview, but may incorporate many other elements throughout life. The call then is strong and clear: we must reject those ways of thinking that are not Christian, and adopt a truly Christian worldview.
To aid in this each chapter gives not only a precise definition of each worldview, but also the positive elements and the drastic problems with each. This structure makes hard concepts easier to understand and makes it relevant to all of us.
Highly recommended.
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Generally ok info, but the author seems to make a lot of baseless assumptions.
There are some good nuggets in this, but there’s a lot of hidden worldview in Hidden Worldviews! The author in the beginning doesn’t have a high view of scripture, he says that it’s not cross referenced, interconnected or logically constructed. That’s a pretty low view of scripture coming from someone maintaining that a Christian/biblical worldview is the best. I think he conflates American rugged individualism with selfishness and a self centered way of living when most American individualists focus on being self sustaining and end up helping many people around them. His definition of nationalism (American) is more on par with European nationalism which often had been used by socialism which was the poison pill for it, but American nationalism is more about protecting the constitutional republic that safeguards the rights of individuals.In one portion he paints it as almost bad to have autonomy and self sufficiency, then praises a guy in a prison camp for having mental autonomy in that he hung on to his hope of seeing his family again, but the autonomy of individualism that the author belittled previously would have actually allowed the guy to see his family again. Also, instead of explaining how these have seeped into the church he often blames Christianity for these worldly world views as if they are a reaction to Christians being bad instead of naturally arising out of a god-hating culture. He even suggests that moral relativists could help Christians have a better view of the Bible in some ways, I’m sorry but the scripture is very clear that the natural man does not receive the things of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.Any who, seems like he has been in college for his PHD and then taught for 35 years, I’m just an uneducated pastor and construction worker, but it just didn’t seem to line up entirely with reality. Again. A few good nuggets, and a decent over all approach, but be on guard to spit out the bones.
Top reviews from other countries
Jeff
Must read to challenge your personal worldviews....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2010
