I have been fascinated as I have been on this journey with Jesus. Beginning that day when He reached out to me and rescued me from the mire and dust to see how many false things I believed about the world around me, mankinds nature and abilities and the spirit realm.Dr, Ed Murphy speaks about the Biblical worldview in his book 'The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare. His book, which I highly recommend for its breadth and scope of topical coverage, is one of the most comprehensive books on the subject or Spiritual Warfare. Below is a link and some text from Thomas nelson the publisher. "The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare is the most thorough treatment available of biblical and theological foundations and practical concerns for spiritual warfare. Further revised and updated for the 21st century. http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/
The Book:
1. Equips leaders and mature believers
2. Comprehensive coverage of all 3 dimensions of spiritual conflict: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Endorsed by Frank Peretti, Dr. C. Peter Wagner, and others." http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?dept_id=11850&sku=0785250263&TopLevel_id=110000 I would not recommend this book for new believers but I do highly recommend the books below for all bel;ievers!
There is another book that opened my eyes to the area of Worldview many years ago and is still around, now in its 4th addition. James Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a wonderful resource and should be mandatory reading for all Christians who interact with anyone who was not been raised in the Church. Sub titled 'A Basic Worldview Catalog' the reader of this book is treated to insights, such as how the Church's weakened Spiritual state led to the rise of false religions and a dependency on science as the underpinning of mankind’s belief systems. Below are some of the materials on the IVP web site. IVP is the publisher and I commend them for continuing to publish this excellent work.About the Book:
When The Universe Next Door was first introduced nearly thirty years ago, it set the standard for a clear, readable introduction to worldviews. In concise, easily understood prose, James W. Sire explained the basics of theism, deism, naturalism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern monism and the new consciousness.
The second edition was updated and expanded to include sections on Marxism and secular humanism, as well as a completely reworked chapter on what is now widely known as New Age philosophy rather than new consciousness. And the third edition offered further updating and revisions, including a thoroughly revised chapter on New Age philosophy and, perhaps most importantly, a new chapter on postmodernism.
Now the fourth edition refines the definition of worldview itself, incorporating Sire's thinking and teaching during the past decade. (His recent work is showcased in a new book, Naming the Elephant, also published by IVP.)
The Universe Next Door has been translated into several languages and has been used as a text at over one hundred colleges and universities in courses ranging from apologetics and world religions to history and English literature. With the publication of the fourth edition, this book will continue to aid students, teachers and anyone who wants to understand the variety of worldviews that compete with Christianity for the allegiance of our minds and hearts.
If you want to know more go to the IVP web site http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2780
IVP Extra!
Available as an audio book from Hovel Audio.
Available as an audio book from Hovel Audio.
Table of ContentsPreface to the Fourth Edition
1. A World of Difference: Introduction
2. A Universe Charged with the Grandeur of God: Christian Theism
3. The Clockwork Universe: Deism
4. The Silence of Finite Space: Naturalism
5. Zero Point: Nihilism
6. Beyond Nihilism: Existentialism
7. Journey to the East: Eastern Pantheistic Monism
8. A Separate Universe: The New Age
9. The Vanished Horizon: Postmodernism
10. The Examined Life: ConclusionIndex
10. The Examined Life: ConclusionIndex
Features & Benefits
1. Introduces the Christian worldview and its major alternatives, both Eastern and Western
2. Explains and evaluates
3. Clear and nontechnical
4. New edition is revised and updated throughout
5.Incorporates refinement of the definition of a worldview
6. Over 250,000 copies in print in more than one dozen languages worldwide
1. Introduces the Christian worldview and its major alternatives, both Eastern and Western
2. Explains and evaluates
3. Clear and nontechnical
4. New edition is revised and updated throughout
5.Incorporates refinement of the definition of a worldview
6. Over 250,000 copies in print in more than one dozen languages worldwide
Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a ConceptWhat is a worldview?
What lies behind your thoughts about almost everything?
What lies behind your thoughts about almost everything?
For more than thirty years, James W. Sire has grappled with this issue. In this book he offers readers his most mature thought on the concept of a worldview, addressing such questions as
What is the history of the concept itself?
What is the first question you should ask in formulating a worldview?
How are worldviews formed existentially as well as intellectually?
Is a worldview primarily an intellectual system, a way of life or a story?
What are the public and private dimensions of a worldview?
What role can worldview thinking play in assessing your own worldview and those of others, especially in light of the pluralism in today's world?
What is the history of the concept itself?
What is the first question you should ask in formulating a worldview?
How are worldviews formed existentially as well as intellectually?
Is a worldview primarily an intellectual system, a way of life or a story?
What are the public and private dimensions of a worldview?
What role can worldview thinking play in assessing your own worldview and those of others, especially in light of the pluralism in today's world?
In his widely used textbook The Universe Next Door, first published in 1976, Sire offered a succinct definition of a worldview and catalogued in summary fashion seven basic worldview alternatives. Students, critics, new literature and continued reflection have led him to reexamine and refine his definition of a worldview. This companion volume to The Universe Next Door is the fruit of that effort.
Here is an excellent resource for exploring more deeply how and why worldview thinking can aid you in navigating your pluralistic universe.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
1. Camel, Kangaroo and Elephant
2. Worldview Definitions: From Dilthey to Naugle
3. First Things First: Being or Knowing
4. Flesh and Bones: Theoretical and Pretheoretical
5. Rational System, Way of Life and Master Story
6. Worldviews: Public and Private
7. Worldview: A Refined Definition
8. Intelligent People Who Clash by Day: Worldviews as a Tool for AnalysisIn
Understanding Matthew: The Early Christian Worldview of the First GospelThis work, a companion volume to Westerholm's Understanding Paul provides an introduction to the early Christian worldview of the First Gospel. The study is neither a verse-by-verse commentary nor a narrowly focused academic monograph. It is an engaging reader's guide to Matthew's worldview and his story of Jesus' life, preaching, andcall to discipleship. Westerholm's goal, as he writes in the first chapter, is that readers might "begin to understand how Matthew made sense of things, and to see how it makes sense to make sense of things that way." His introductory chapter examines the idea of a worldview. He then considers the centralaspects of Matthew's worldviewIsrael's understanding of God, his dealings with the Jewish people, and Jesus' preaching about God's kingdom.
Go to the equippers network Blog for my article on the Role of Biblical Immersion in forming our workdview. http://equippersnetwork.blogspot.com
