Comparison of world views in the universe next door Essay

Comparison of world views in the universe next door - Essay Example The book then progresses to shoe how ensuing world views, including naturalism, deism, nihilism and existentialism, have developed from Christian Theism and where they have deviated. Sire also sheds light upon their weaknesses and where they have failed. The book further discusses how Eastern Pantheism and post modernism have affected western culture and its world views. The book is written as sort of a manual that will help Christians understand why they hold the views they do. Sire believes that knowing one’s own views is of great significance. Thus, right in the beginning, the author clearly highlights the prerequisite for being â€Å"fully conscious intellectually†, which is to be fully aware of one’s own worldview and to know exactly why one holds that view despite so many other views that surround one. From Sire’s definition we see that the ‘world view’ has a set of essential points that distinguish it. Firstly, in a world view an idea o r concept or thought is presupposed, assumed or implicitly understood. This implies that people holding a world view have laid faith or belief upon something that has led them to presuppose this idea or concept or thought. Secondly, these views are about something that people believe to be reality, that is, our world. In a sense, a world view is a belief about the reality of the world in which a person lives. Thirdly, these assumptions are held either consciously or sub-consciously but are influenced by something external to the person.