The most basic understanding or definition of a worldview is that it is exactly like it sounds! It is the way we view the world. Imagine it like a set of glasses. Everything you see is viewed through the lenses of the glasses. How you see everything is filtered through the lenses.
There are many principles that qualify a philosophy as a worldview,, including (but not necessarily limited to):
The Beginning: Where do we come from? What gives us value?
Purpose: What does life really mean? And what is our purpose moving forward.
Morality: How do I differentiate between good and evil? OR How do I know right from wrong?
The Future: Where am I going? What happens to a human being when he or she dies?
We will address each of these topics in separate articles later for more in-depth discussion. But the question of origin will get a broad range of responses simply because those believe in God will most likely say they believe in some form of intelligent design and those who do not believe in God will believe in chance as our origin. Meaning and morality tend to depend on the response given for origin, upbringing and life experience, but asking for someone’s opinion on these two could help give you great insight into their worldview! Destiny too depends on the others. If you are already a believer asking someone else these questions, then this will open the door to sharing the gospel.
This is a less-than 300 word Christian Worldview response to these questions:
The Beginning: There is a God who created the universe and everything in it including us and that He is Who gives us value because He is not created.
Purpose: Because we find our value in God, He gives us purpose through relationship with Himself and with those around us.
Morality: Right and wrong is not based on opinions or feelings or preferences but what God ordained as right and wrong that He gives to us through Scripture.
The Future: This can be answered by the choice we make in regards to God while we’re still alive. God is a Gentleman! He would never force anyone to be with or without Him if they have chosen otherwise. If someone chooses a relationship with God here, then they’ll get one for all eternity, which is what heaven is all about. If someone chooses not to be in relationship with God while they are still here, then they will not be in relationship with God in eternity, which is what hell is all about – a place that is separated from God.
God created us with value and purpose and gives us a reason for everything that happens to us in life and in death. Everything surrounding Christianity holds reasonable and logical truth which is why apologetics is helping more and more every day to come to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ.
