Secular philosophies & popular worldviews Why do Christians look so odd to normal people?

What is a worldview? A set of values and assumptions which shape how we understand the world we engage with Every cultural group has their own worldview which may both overlap with and oppose others in different areas

You can’t see the ground you are standing on. We are often unaware of our own cultural assumptions “…nobody can be told what the matrix is – you have to see it for yourself.”

popular culture vs. academic philosophy

Pre-modern truth partially knowable, focus supernatural, divinely revealed Modern truth fully knowable, focus physical world, external observation Existentialism truth personal, focus on the individual, whatever feels right. Postmodern truth unknowable, focus on the individual, whatever works for you.

Distrust for all forms of institution: Church Science Military Government Finance Media Law/police

Distrust for Institutions Pick n. Mix Pursuit of happiness Original goodness Spirituality Tolerance Consumerism

Consumerism The god of choice

Freedom is choice Culture and identity are deeply connected. Culture and identity are deeply connected. Individual existential ‘feeling’ with post-modern ‘function’ = addiction Individual existential ‘feeling’ with post-modern ‘function’ = addiction Without a fixed foundation for reality, we seek to create our identity from the things we do and the products we consume. Without a fixed foundation for reality, we seek to create our identity from the things we do and the products we consume. “You can see the religious root in advertising. ‘Buy this product and you’ll be saved’.” James Twitchell

Freedom is choice Companies don’t sell products, they sell values. Companies don’t sell products, they sell values. What qualities do brands embody? What qualities do brands embody? Apple, “Think different” Apple, “Think different” Google, “Don’t do evil” Google, “Don’t do evil” Microsoft, “Where do you want to go today?” Microsoft, “Where do you want to go today?” Harley – “True religion” Harley – “True religion”

Freedom is choice Religion as a product has been restricted to sorting out what happens when we die. Religion as a product has been restricted to sorting out what happens when we die. Spirituality as a product sorts out fulfilment in this life Spirituality as a product sorts out fulfilment in this life Consumerism uses the levers of spiritual fulfilment + addictive behaviour to offer identity and salvation through product consumption Consumerism uses the levers of spiritual fulfilment + addictive behaviour to offer identity and salvation through product consumption

Harley Davidson

The God brand Existence of God is not really a question Existence of God is not really a question Which god and why? Which god and why? God brand associations: God brand associations: Cruel Cruel Bigoted Bigoted Sexist Sexist Distant/absent Distant/absent ??? ???

questions