Six Primary Worldviews Theism is the most widely accepted worldview in the United States, with approximately 67% of Americans identifying as Christians, 2% as Jewish and 1% as Muslim (see Statistica). Even so, few Americans have consciously developed a specific worldview, and many of them embrace various aspects of pantheism, naturalism, humanism and postmodernism. Pantheism is the dominate worldview throughout Asia, and polytheism is prevalent in areas of the world that are predominantly tribal. Many aspects of pantheism and polytheism overlap, so the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. (Download PDF with live URL links at www.rw360values.org/6worldviews.) Reality Humankind Truth Values Theism An infinite, personal God exists. He Humankind is the unique creation Truth about God is known through Moral values are the objective Christianity (More) created a finite, material world. Reality of God. People were created "in revelation. Truth about the expression of a supernatural and Judaism (More) is both material and spiritual. The the image of God," which means material world is gained via absolute moral being and therefore universe as we know it had a beginning that we are personal, eternal, revelation and the five senses in remain constant over time. Islam (More) and will have an end. spiritual and biological. conjunction with rational thought.

Pantheism Only the spiritual dimension exists. All Humankind is one with ultimate Truth is an experience of unity Ultimate reality is impersonal, so Buddhism else is illusion. Spiritual reality, reality. Thus man is spiritual, with "the oneness" of the pantheistic thinkers believe that Hinduism Brahman, is eternal, impersonal, and eternal, and impersonal. Man's universe. Truth is beyond all there is no real distinction between Taoism unknowable. It is possible to say that belief that he is an individual is rational description. Rational good and evil. "Unenlightened" illusion. thought as it is understood in the New Age Consciousness everything is a part of God, or that God behavior is that which fails to is in everything and everyone. West cannot show us reality. understand essential unity. More on worldview

Polytheism The world is populated by spirit beings Humankind is a creation of the Truth about the natural world is Moral values take the form of taboos, Spiritism, Animism who govern what goes on. Gods and gods like the rest of the creatures discovered through the shaman which are things that irritate or anger Thousands of Religions demons are the real reason behind on earth. Tribes or races often have figure who has visions telling him various spirits. Taboos are different "natural" events. Material things are real a special relationship with some what the gods and demons are from the idea of "good and evil" More on worldview but have spirits associated with them gods who protect them and can doing and how they feel. because it is just as important to avoid and, therefore, can be interpreted punish them. irritating evil spirits as it is good ones. spiritually.

Naturalism The material universe is all that exists. Humankind is the chance product Truth is usually understood as No objective values or morals exist. Atheism Reality is "one- dimensional." There is of a biological process of evolution. scientific proof. Only that which Morals are individual preferences or Agnosticism no such thing as a soul or a spirit. Man is entirely material. The can be observed with the five socially useful behaviors. Even social Everything can be explained on the human species will one day pass senses is accepted as real or true. morals are subject to evolution and Existentialism basis of natural law. out of existence. change. More on worldview Humanism Emphasizes the value and agency of Humankind is part of nature and Truth may be found through Values are derived and steadily Marxism human beings, individually and has emerged as the result of a science (critical thinking and improved from a philosophy of More on worldview collectively, and relies on rationalism continuous evolutionary process. empiricism) and philosophy. utilitarianism, ethical naturalism or and evidence over the transcendent or His total personality bears the evolutionary ethics. supernatural. imprint of the social and cultural society surrounding him.

Postmodernism Reality must be interpreted through Humans are nodes in a cultural Truths are mental constructs Values are part of our social More on worldview our language and cultural "paradigm." reality—they are a product of meaningful to individuals within a paradigms as well. Tolerance, Therefore, reality is "socially their social setting. The idea that particular cultural paradigm. They freedom of expression, inclusion and constructed." people are autonomous and free do not apply to other paradigms. refusal to claim to have the answers is a myth. Truth is relative to one's culture. are the only universal values.