SOCIOLOGY: CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

Introduction  How do you think American culture has shaped the Christian worldview?  How do you think American culture has shaped family, church, and government?

Introduction  Sociologists acknowledge the existence of social institutions such as family, church, and state  Belief of origin, authority, and purpose of institutions is left to be interpreted by the individual  Family, Church, State: The Christian belief that society is divided into three God-ordained institutions  Christian Worldview: teaches God created men and women in His image  Atheistic Worldview: teach that men and women are evolving animals Believe Adam and Eve, Garden of Eden, and the sanctity of the family to be pre-scientific myths This view has caused society to be corrupt (drug, alcohol abuse, crime, abortion, sexual perversion, disease, and poverty)

Free Will and Society  Christian sociology affirms the individual’s free will and responsibility  We are free to choose good and evil, right and wrong, and we are able to shape society (we face consequences for our actions)  Grants us control over our society but requires us to be responsible for our choices We face our consequences of our actions (reason being Adam and Eve’s failure to obey God in the Garden of Eden) and we are guilty before God  Atheistic sociology claims society determines our consciousness and actions

Free Will and Society  The Genesis account of Adam and Eve’s sin not only demonstrates that we are responsible for our actions, but also teaches that we are guilty before God  Sociologists who understand that we are alienated from God because of sin will interpret data differently that those who believe we are inherently good but have been corrupted by our society and environment

The Inherent Worth of the Individual  Christian Sociology: takes a pessimistic view of society  Everything we do is not wrong/bad  God grants grace to us in spite of our failures and errors  Sees each person as valuable and able to contribute to society  C.S. Lewis: while atheists may think that “nations, classes, civilizations must be more important than individuals,” because “individuals live only seventy odd years each and the group may last for centuries. But to the Christian, individuals are more important, for they live eternally; and races, civilizations and the like are in comparison the creatures of a day.”

The Individual as a Social Being  We were created as social beings and recognize the role society plays in history as well as in our relationship with God  We were created to relate to other beings  How did the Fall of man affect our relationships with each other?  Do we really love people? Do love people because God commands us?

Christian Pluralism  Pluralism: sociological concept that the individual is more important than institutions in society and that society is important because God created us as social beings  Holds that both the individual and societal groups are accountable to God What does this mean for individuals and people groups?

Biblically Prescribed Institutions  Institutions  Family  Church  State (Government) How have we seen God ordained these societal institutions? Do you think there should be a separation of church/state?

Marriage and the Family  Family is ordained (Genesis 2:23-25)  “Husband and wife are lawfully married, are committed to each other for life, and the family adheres to the traditional values on which the family is based.” James Dobson and Gary Bauer How does culture see marriage?  Christian sociologist believe if the family is troubled, then society is troubled What is the current condition of the family?

The Church in Society  What is the purpose of the church?  Purpose of the Church  Proclaim truth (regarding sin)  Repentance  Salvation  Role model of true community