Worldviews, the Bible, and the Believer

Critical to understanding the New Testament world and our world is an understanding of worldview– the lens of living.

What you'll learn

describe what makes up the lens called a 'worldview'
describe the worldviews of the Ancient Roman world, the Jewish world of the 1st Century AD, and the world of the emerging 'in Messiah' people
discern narratives within a culture that often dictate behavior and beliefs
explain how symbols reinforce and create fertile ground for a worldview to develop
discuss what role questions play in the development and strengthening of a worldview
articulate how 'praxis', or automatic behaviors, show how a worldview works
develop a reflective perspective on one's own worldview as described by Prof. N.T. Wright
process how the biblical text of the New Testament may be better understood when the worldviews at play are understood
articulate what an 'in Messiah' worldview might look like in this present day within your own culture
examine the journey from the pre-Modern Age to the present day through examining the Western culture from the perspective of the underlying worldviews of each era

Requirements

Students should acquire the textbook 'Subversive Christianity' by Brian Walsh, 2nd edition (Wipf and Stock, 2014). ISBN: 9781498203401

Description

This course, taught by Professor N.T. Wright, is designed to take students into the realm of what a 'worldview' is. While most people think about 'beliefs' and 'actions', the real power behind each is the interplay that occurs within a person's or society's worldview. Understanding this worldview, particularly of the world of the New Testament, will assist students of the Bible in understanding what a New Testament text meant in its own context. Prof. Wright will describe the worldviews of the first century Romans, Jews, and Christians. He will then move through history to describe the Western worldview as a way of helping students discern where they fit and how to look at and through their own lenses in the 21st century. Prof. Wright will be joined by Prof. David Seemuth who will look at the U.S. worldview of the early 21st century as an outgrowth and reaction to the Western worldview that emerged from the Enlightenment period.

Who this course is for:

This course on Worldviews is designed specifically for students of the New Testament as well as for those who wish to understand how cultures work from a high level perspective. This course does not require any prerequisites. However, high level, critical thinking abilities will help students achieve success in this course.
One unique aspect of this course is the corollary benefit of seeing how a person's own worldview affects behavior, beliefs and attitude.
The course will be best for those who wish to think deeply about their own worldviews and who wish to interact with students and the professor about one's own worldview in a way that encourages analysis and questioning of fundamental assumptions which exist underneath the outward stated beliefs and demonstrated practices of a person.