A Worldview and 4 Questions

“Created for Significance

”Ravi ZachariasRZIM Ministries - “Let My People Think”

Corresponds to a person’s:◦ Values ◦ Commitments

Thus needs:◦ Coherence◦ Correspondence

The Test:◦ Logical Consistency◦ Empirical Adequacy◦ Experiential

Relevance

A Worldview

Origen

Meaning

Morality

Destiny

How did I come into being?

What brings life meaning?

How do I know right from wrong?

Where am I headed after I die?

4 Questions:

Question #1Origen

Cambridge Professor Holds Chair held by Isaac

Newton Lou Gehrig's Disease

◦ No voice capability◦ 1 mm motion of 1 finger◦ Backup: infrared reader of his eye

movement

Steven Hawking

Is man “designed” or is he free Yes we have been designed:

◦ But don’t know what the design is. ◦ May as well not be.

His fear:◦ We’re here because of “natural selection.”◦ Natural selection implies “natural rejection”◦ Hopefully in 100 years we’ll develop technology to

explore and populate other worlds...◦ Thus we can’t destroy everything and everyone at

once.

Steven Hawking @ Cambridge

The irony ... ?

A lot of money, time, care invested in a man who says that he’s merely “random.”

Stephen J. Gould (September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002)

“Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium:”◦ Most evolution marked by long periods of evolutionary stability◦ These are punctuated by rare instances of branching evolution. ◦ Vs. “hyletic gradualism” that evolutionary change is marked by

pattern of smooth, continuous change.

• American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and historian of science

• Professor at Harvard University and NYU

We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures...

because comets struck the earth and wiped out dinosaurs, thereby giving mammals a chance not otherwise available (so thank your lucky stars in a literal sense)...

because the earth never froze entirely during an ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter

of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook.

We may yearn for a "higher" answer — but none exists. This explanation, though superficially troubling, if not terrifying,

is ultimately liberating and exhilarating. We cannot read the meaning of life passively in the facts of

nature. We must construct these answers for ourselves from our wisdom and our ethical sense.

There is no other way.…

Stephen J. Gould – On The Meaning of Life

“We have educated ourselves into imbecility”

Malcolm Muggeridge

“Without God ...there is no atheism”

G. K. Chesterton

Question #2Meaning

1. Sense of Awe & Wonder

2. Sense of Truth

3. Sense of Love/Relationship

4. Sense of Security

4 Needs For Meaning:

Effect of hyper-focus on “science.”

Lose wonder, you lose:

◦ Sense of the miraculous◦ Sense of gratitude

1. Sense of Awe / Wonder

There is no difference between a man and a woman

There is no difference between man and animal Let’s save one; let’s dispose of the other.

Leonard Sax, Why Gender Matters.

2. Sense of Truth

More acceptable today to be depressed vs. to be lonely

2004 General Social Survey:◦ One of four Americans talked to no one about something of

importance during last six months. 2000 U.S. Census:

◦ More people living alone today than any point in the US history◦ 25 percent of households consist of one person only.

Effects of loneliness: physical decline, emotional problems, substance abuse, diminished happiness, increased aggression, violent crime.

Results of a culture that idealizes busyness and self-reliance.

3. Love/Relationship vs. Loneliness

You can’t hug a tree.

A human person needs fulfillment, a message, love from outside him/herself.

3. Love/Relationship vs. Loneliness

Two “arts” for security ◦ The Art of Acquiring◦ The Art of Administrating

Security thus involves:◦ Service ◦ Stewardship

4. Security

Question #3 - Morality

An atheist might deny the bus is real - but still won’t walk in front of a moving one.

Question #4Destiny

Antidote: A Christian Anthropology:

Sonship – Worship - Stewardship

A Christian Anthropology:

Undergirded by:

Relationship (“Sonship”)

Worship

Stewardship

Love

Reverence

Accountability

Components:

Relationship (“Sonship”)

T-Ball and the Father

Why are you going out for ice cream

Don’t I satisfy you?

Aren’t I enough for you?

A Question for my wife

Why are you going to play tennis? Don’t you love me? Don’t I fulfill you?

A Question for my husband

Conscience Will Mind Imagination Heart

Holiness Purpose Truth Beauty Love

We are multi-sensory beings

.. all tied up in ADORATION

Fulfillment in meaningful love-relationships◦ Human beings have a natural propensity for this

Sense of wonder and mystery Service and stewardship

“But Mass is boring.”◦ If you can’t worship individually – you can’t

worship corporally

Worship

Jesus Christ◦ Bridged his heavily mission with his earthly

journey

Psalm 8 Romans 8:18-26 Ephesians 1:3-6; 11-12

Another “World” View

A Worldview and 4 Questions

End of Presentation