Regardless of the culture that one identifies with, there is a set of believes that guide how one acts, behaves, or interacts with others in society. Spirituality for Christians entails having a sense of connection with a being beyond human comprehension. Based on Christians doctrines, the foundation of Christian believes is based on the existence of a triune God who is not only the master creator but also the one above all else. They believe in God, the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit is a fundamental aspect of spirituality for all who believe in the holy bible. Besides, spirituality encompasses not only a sense of relation to God but, most importantly, having emotions of attachment to God and acting in accordance with the scriptures. Ethics is intertwined with spirituality in that, it is one of the avenues of understanding right and wrong, an aspect which, in turn, is the basis of ethics. An ideal Christian is one whose moral disposition is in accordance with ethical elements directly or indirectly stipulated in Christian teachings and the scriptures ( Cosgrove, 2006) . The perspective of postmodern relativism within health care sharply contrast the Christian perspective of the nature of spirituality and ethics in that while postmodern relativism embraces different moral orientations, believes and actions in general, Christianity is rigid to certain moral values and ethics that ensure a greater good for all. Within the healthcare system, postmodern relativism rejects the idea of single rationality in navigating different challenges. Other than embracing mainstream avenues of healthcare provision that mainly entail medication and scientific approaches towards healing an individual, postmodernism embraces complementary therapy. Besides, while in postmodernism, it is believed that science offers explanations about virtually all the aspects in the world, the Christian Worldview has it that God is the source of knowledge ( PHI-413V Topic 1 Overview) .
Scientism and Arguments against It.
Scientism is the view that only science is the basis of genuine knowledge of reality. It regards other sources of knowledge as highly subjective, while it views knowledge that has a scientific basis as superior. Moreover, it is profoundly incompatible with the Christian Worldview due to the justification that it offers about the plausible source of knowledge. Scientism differs from science in that while it mainly focuses on human behavior and beliefs, science is a broader field that explores the natural world using scientifically proven as well as delineated methods ( Burnett, 2014) . One of the primary arguments against scientism is that science has inherent limitations that cannot be explained by scientific facts. Although scientific knowledge is based on facts that can be proved through research undertakings such as those carried out in a lab or making sense of data collected through empirical analysis, it is not always so. The inability to scientifically validate some claims in this field leads to the conclusion that it is a self-refuting philosophy. Another argument against scientism is that regardless of the fact that science is a powerful source of knowledge, in addition, to being limited in certain aspects, it is not the only avenue of gaining knowledge about the real world. It lacks a moral dimension in that it cannot dictate how people should behave towards each other. Besides, it does not set apart wrong from good. Furthermore, it is limited because it does not expound on ethical undertakings. The claim that it is the primary source of knowledge is highly refutable because there other major philosophical or religious tools that are a major source of guidance to their adherents.
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Worldview Questions
The Ultimate Reality
Although the ultimate reality is a multifaceted aspect in that it could be related to philosophy, spirituality, physical or non-physical aspects, it conforms to one explanation; it is an all-inclusive reality that could be used to explain the real nature of things. One approach to analyzing what it encompasses is looking at it through different world views such as Christian, atheist, and pantheists ( PHI-413V Topic 1 Overview) . A person’s approach to the fundamental explanation of reality could acutely differ from that of another. Regardless of the inherent differences in what individuals consider to profoundly explain why things are the way they do, the ultimate reality, most often dominates the structure of thoughts that guide one’s existence and make life meaningful. Closely related to the different worldviews embraced by various individuals, it can be concluded that it is an aspect that possesses fundamental power to convince one into believing a particular explanation of what reality is.
What is the Nature of the universe?
At its most fundamental level, the nature of the universe can be described as the believes and arbitrary approaches to understanding the natural world. To help in contextualizing the question, one could ask questions such as whether the universe is eternal or it is something that is strictly physical. Based on one’s view, however, it could be described as a hypothetical intangible aspect that only exists in an individual’s mind and possibly beyond one’s comprehension. It can also be explained based on scientific theories as well as Christian Worldview. In relation to the Christian’s viewpoint, it is an aspect that is within God’s understanding and possibly hard for human beings to understand. Herat, its nature, could be viewed as consisting of both a physical and spiritual realm. On the other hand, although scientific theories could be used to explain its nature, the universe is far more complex than human beings could think of.
What is a human being?
Based on Christian doctrines, a human being is a creature created in the likeness and image of God. Its superiority among God’s creation gives it power over all other animals. Other than being intelligent, it has dominion over all that was created by God, both plants and animals. Human beings could be considered to have the nature of God because, according to the bible, to give life to the person he created, he breathed his air into him. He also said that human beings would be like him. Regardless of human beings being created in the likeness of God, they are imperfect beings. A human being has immense abilities to reason and act. Although science distinguishes them from other species based on body structure, mental development, and ability to reason, a person could further be described by their moral beliefs, character, and culture. In other worldviews, human beings are considered sacred beings, an aspect that makes life one of the most valued gifts that a person has.
What is knowledge?
Knowledge is the quest for understanding the absolute truth. It entails the acquisition of facts and information using skills that are acquired by an individual as they interact with the environment they live in. Besides, it is a product of an in-depth analysis of environmental aspects using scientific approaches, philosophical theories, and general believes that guide one’s understanding of the world. According to Christians, all knowledge comes from God. This worldview, hence, has it that knowledge is influenced by God and not the human quest to uncovering the reason why things are the way they are. It could also be described as innovation of new ways of approaching and solving challenges that affect one’s efficiency. Although this could be based on one’s senses and intuition, others believe that one has to ask for God’s intervention either to acquire knowledge or put into prudent use of the knowledge they have.
The Basis of Personal Ethics
The basis of the moral principles that guide one’s actions and interactions with others in the society is based on one’s culture believes, environmental influencers, and society. Personally, my moral guidelines are primarily based on Christian doctrines as well as family codes ( Cosgrove, 2006) . Other than having strong Christian values that help me to act according to Christian norms, the close-knit family I come from has some norms that are considered indispensable in the interaction between family members. The high learning institution I study in also has rules and regulations that must be adhered to by all students. The core values also explain what is to be embraced. Besides, the school’s policies stipulate how to interact with students and the teaching fraternity in the right manner. Being a member of the school community, the policies, in one way or another, form the basis of my ethics.
The Purpose of my Existence
I believe that my existence is not accidental. As a Christian, I exist to fulfill God’s purpose in the world. I have been created to be a source of hope to those whose state of life has pushed them into despair. I have also been mandated to preach good news to those who do not believe in Christ. Also, I exist to be a ray of hope to those who do not derive meaning in day to day life undertakings due to the circumstances they have been through. The above is not what I have made of life, but they are my God-given duties.
References
Burnett, T. (2014). What Is Scientism?. American Association for the Advancement of Science, accessed , 13 .
Cosgrove, M. P. (2006). Foundations of Christian thought: Faith, learning, and the Christian worldview . Kregel Academic.
Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A primer for Christians . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
PHI-413V Topic 1 Overview Foundational Issues in Christian Spirituality and Ethic
