Have you consciously and intentionally chosen your own world-view?
Are you sure?
Our world-view is the way we see and understand the universe in which we live. It drives our behavior, decisions, speech, philosophy, religion, all facets of our lives. Most of us like to think we have chosen our world-view consciously and intentionally. However, a great majority of people are not being honest about this.
Want proof? Spend some time asking others questions about their beliefs and how they came to accept them. And, if you’re going to be honest, ask yourself these same questions. Here are some example questions to consider:
- How did you choose your world-view? Or, perhaps a better way to ask this question is: How did you come to believe what you believe about yourself and the universe in which you live? Explain the process you went thru to arrive at your conclusions.
- Have you spent time considering beliefs that don’t agree with yours? For example:
- If you don’t believe in a Creator, did you spend significant time and effort investigating opposing viewpoints and trying to understand these viewpoints?
- If you do believe in Creator, did you spend significant time and effort investigating opposing viewpoints and trying to understand these viewpoints?
- If you are of a particular religious persuasion (e.g. Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, etc.) did you spend significant time and effort investigating opposing viewpoints and trying to understand these viewpoints?
- Are you willing to accept the possibility that what you believe is wrong? If so, what have you done to make sure that your beliefs are correct?
- Are you continually open and watching for challenges to your beliefs in the possibility something may come along that you hadn’t considered before?
Does this sound like a lot of work? Yes, it is. However, there is nothing more important in all of life than undertaking this effort. As mentioned above, your world-view (belief system) drives your behavior, decisions, speech, philosophy, religion, all facets of your life. And, if the vast majority of the people in the world are correct and there is life after this one, your belief system is critical to understanding and preparing for that world. Doesn’t that make it worth the effort?