This book discusses the different aspects of a Christian worldview applicable to the times in which we live today. Any valid worldview must attempt to discern God’s plan for the human race as well as God’s plan for each of us. We believe that our all-wise God has a definite plan and purpose for each of us. It is our task to discern our God-appointed plan each day, each year of our life. One of the best ways to discern God’s plan is to use a daily Personal Growth Plan. We suggest such a plan in Appendix A. The final chapter of this book offers some suggestions of where to begin to carry out our God-appointed destiny on earth.
Worldview refers to those unproven and unprovable assumptions one makes regarding all reality, but especially ultimate reality. Ordinary human reason proves one statement to be true by asserting another more basic statement. This more basic statement is then proven correct by a still more basic statement. This process of human reasoning has to stop somewhere. The final statement is accepted as true on blind faith. We satisfy our consciences by stating that the truth of this final statement is self-evident. What we mean by this is that we are ready to accept the truth and validity of this final statement on blind faith without having to prove it. These assumptions of truth, which we accept on faith without further proof, constitute our total worldview.
Different people have different worldviews, depending upon which statements regarding truth and reality they consider to be self-evident, and therefore not needing any further proof. In the past there have been long periods of human history when the overwhelming majority of educated people of that period had the same worldview. In other words, most of one’s neighbors accepted as true the same set of self-evident statements. As a result, people were able to live at peace with their worldview without feeling the need of further proof of these so-called “self-evident” truths.
The first chapter discusses the all-importance of discerning our worldview, our way of looking at all reality. This includes our way of looking at God, as well as the whole of God’s creation. Chapter four looks at the worldview of Jesus as seen in the eight Beatitudes. Chapter five discusses the worldview of Jesus as seen from the viewpoint of Christ’s mission on earth and of the mission of Christ’s church. Three different Christian worldviews are contrasted: Ptolemaic, Copernican and Einsteinian. These may also be described as the Pre-Vatican II worldview, the Post-Vatican II worldview and the new worldview.
Chapters two and three suggest the needed changes in our worldview as a result of the events of September 11, 2001.
Other chapters discuss the place of the Bible and the Sacraments in any authentic worldview. We also look at the worldview of the saints as seen in the life of one saint, St. Therese of Lisieux. Other chapters discuss the need of balance in our worldview, the necessary aspects of a valid worldview and the way dreams can help us discern a worldview in accord with God’s will. A chapter on Healing Ministry suggests some of the ways to heal a worldview that has gone astray. All of us have a tendency to wander away from God’s destiny for us.
In chapter sixteen we suggest the use of the six Cs to help us on our journey of faith in carrying out God’s plan and destiny for us as individuals as well as for the whole human race. The six Cs are Call – Conversion – Covenant – Celebration – Consolation – Commission. We need to repeat these six steps again and again as we climb the spiral staircase leading to an eternal union of love with God. The daily Personal Growth Plan keeps us on the right track leading to God.
The final chapter suggests that we begin each day with an increase of faith, hope and charity. By our practice during the day of prayer, almsgiving and fasting we will fulfill our God-appointed destiny and carry out God’s plan for us and for the whole of God’s creation.
God is constantly calling us to a closer union of love. God’s plan for the human race is to expand the family circle of heaven to include all of us and the whole of creation. Our journey of faith is to identify God’s plan and destiny for us, and then to follow it as best we can. The fulfillment of this divine plan is what Jesus calls the Kingdom of God.
God loves us unconditionally and exceedingly. We can say that God is head over heels in love with each one of us. God wants to share with us all the treasures and benefits which the three Persons of the Holy Trinity share. A Christian worldview accepts this plan of God, and acts accordingly. Faith uses our power and freedom of choice to accept God’s plan and God’s love, and to make a return of unconditional love to God. Trust in God is to feel secure in the midst of all the uncertainties of life because we are safe in the arms of God. Charity is our response of love to God’s love.
Another way of considering love is the three religious practices of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Prayer contributes to our intimacy with and love of God. Almsgiving is an example of our love and ministry to other human beings. Fasting deals with the need of a loving self-discipline regarding ourselves.
A final way of considering love is to think of it as referring to the four relationships with God, neighbor, self and the whole of creation. In each of these areas we are called and challenged by God our Creator to practice unconditional love. This means that we consistently put the legitimate needs of others above our own selfish desires.