Haitian Culture vs Biblical Worldview

The Cultural Onion (Donald Smith) Behavioural Behavioural Authority Authority Experience Experience The “Core” The “Core”

The Cultural Onion Behavior The Twelve Languages of Culture: Verbal Kinesic Written Optical Numeric Tactile Pictorial Spatial Artifactual Temporal AudioOlfactory

The Cultural Onion Authority AuthorityIdeologies FORMAL Ideological Authorities : Bible, Constitution, Creeds Social structures Compulsory Structures: governments Voluntary Structures: clubs, churches Peer Relations Interpersonal Networks Framework for physical survival

The cultural Onion Experience ExperienceHistoricalEnvironmentalPersonal

The Core of Culture Determines the shape of the outer layers Determines the shape of the outer layers The heart and essence of the culture. The heart and essence of the culture. Also called World view, Core beliefs, Themes Themes Reproductive Reproductive

The Core The core is invisible, hidden beneath layers of defense The core is invisible, hidden beneath layers of defense The core is highly resistant to change The core is highly resistant to change The core changes very slowly, measured in decades and generations The core changes very slowly, measured in decades and generations

The “open window” is through The “open window” is through personal experience. It is only by personally experiencing It is only by personally experiencing God Himself in Christ, that we can gain a new core, that we can gain a new core, ( a new heart). 2 Cor 5:17; Rom: 12:2; Gal 5:16

The nature of a Worldview The way one sees life and the world in general. The way one sees life and the world in general. The set of beliefs adopted by someone on the most fundamental questions of life. The set of beliefs adopted by someone on the most fundamental questions of life. A mental structure allowing a person to organize his/her basic beliefs. A mental structure allowing a person to organize his/her basic beliefs. A map of life (The big picture). A map of life (The big picture).

Why is Worldview important? Ideas govern the world. We live within systems. Ideas govern the world. We live within systems. Beliefs come before behavior. Beliefs come before behavior. One’s thinking significantly influence his/her behavior. One’s thinking significantly influence his/her behavior. Teaching and Preaching must address the fundamental questions. Teaching and Preaching must address the fundamental questions. The call of the Bible to the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2) The call of the Bible to the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2)

The elements in the development of a worldview Religious Education/ or lack of Religious Education/ or lack of Family Family School School Language Language Culture Culture Social status/ economic status Social status/ economic status Personal Experience Personal Experience

Big questions a worldview has to address Ultimate Reality Ultimate Reality Reality outside of self Reality outside of self Knowledge Knowledge Origin Origin Identity Identity Place/“location” Place/“location” Morality Morality Values Values Human Condition Human Condition Solution Solution History History Destiny Destiny

Major components Concept of God Concept of God Concept of réalité externe*** Concept of réalité externe*** Theory of knowledge Theory of knowledge Theory of values Theory of values Concept of human nature Concept of human nature Sense of history Sense of history

Christian theism God: infinite, personal, perfect, transcendent God: infinite, personal, perfect, transcendent World: creation ex nihilo, real, dependent World: creation ex nihilo, real, dependent Knowledge: discovery, revelation Knowledge: discovery, revelation Ethics: universal, objective, prescriptive, based on God’s character Ethics: universal, objective, prescriptive, based on God’s character Human: Imago Dei, rational, moral Human: Imago Dei, rational, moral History: linear, designed by God History: linear, designed by God