1. A Brief Introduction to the Concept
Worldview
A Brief Introduction
to the Concept

2. A General Definition
A “Worldview” is the comprehensive set of beliefs, knowledge, values, assumptions, attitudes, and opinions that serve as a lense through which a particular social group sees, interprets, and makes sense of the world in which it lives.
One View

3. Examples Two Woldviews
Rigoberta Menchú
Spencer Wells
Leader of K'iche’ Mayan People
Stanford University Geneticist

4. Some Components of a Worldview
Ontology: beliefs that group members hold about the nature and reality of the material, mental, and spiritual realms.
Epistemology: the dominant or preferred ways of knowing among most of the group’s members
Theology: the group’s beliefs about the nature of god(s), its powers, and its role in human life
Cosmology: the group’s beliefs about the origins, the nature, the history, and the future directions of the universe, as well as the place of humans within that scheme
Values: goup beliefs about what is important in life, what is to be persued, obtained, protected, cherished
Ethics: group beliefs about right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

5. San people of Namibia
Aboriginal
people of
Australia
Chukchi herders of Siberia
Navajo people of Arizona

6. Let’s Compare Two Woldviews
Rigoberta Menchú
Spencer Wells
Ontology
Epistemology
Theology
Cosmology
Values
Ethics
Life Style
Leader of K'iche’ Mayan People
Stanford University Geneticist

7. Culture
Worldview W X Y Z
Worldview W X Y Z

8. The Worldview Project Form a 3 or 4-person team
Select a group to explore
Conduct research
Prepare a multimedia PowerPoint presentation
Deliver the presentation to the class

9. Selecting a Group to Study
Select a “living” group whose worldview is held by real people today.
Choose a group whose worldview is different than those held by your group members.
Select a group which has produced accessible information about itself.
Select a group in which all of your team members have some degree of genuine interest.
Take your time in considering the alternatives until consensus is reached.
Consult with me before making your final decision.

10. Selecting a Group to Study
Indigenous Culture Groups
Maya of Guatemala
Inuit of Alaska or the Arctic
Hutu, Tutsi, San, or Maasai of Africa
Maori of New Zealand or Aborigines of Australia
Romani or Roma (Gypsies) of central Europe
Asmat of Papua New Guinea
Mixtec or Zapotec of Oaxaca, Mexico

11. Selecting a Group to Study
Religious Groups
(In which “religion”has a profound influence on its members’ belief system and lifestyle.)
Hasidic Judaism
Amish
Islamic Fundamentalism
The Unification Church (Moonies)
Hare Krishnas

12. Selecting a Group to Study
Spiritual Movement Groups
New Age
Falun Gong
Kabbalah
Scientology

13. Focus of Your Research and Presentation
Background and Context
Provide a very brief historical sketch for the group.
Map the place or places in the world where the group resides.
Show what members of the group look like.
Provide some demographic information on the group.

14. Focus of Your Research and Presentation
Key Beliefs that Comprise the Group’s Worldview
Ontological beliefs
Epistemological beliefs
Religious or spiritual beliefs
Ethical teachings
Core values
Social beliefs
Beliefs about the group’s relationship to the larger society.
Other elements necessary to understand the group’s worldview

15. Focus of Your Research and Presentation
Cultural Patterns
Are there any cultural patterns that characterize the group and help to understand it?
Rural-agrarian or urban-industrial
Poverty or wealth
Low formal education or high formal education
Minority status or majority status
History of being oppressed or oppressing others
Segregated from or integrated within the wider society
Other factors

16. Focus of Your Research and Presentation
Current Concerns, Issues, and Challenges
The world is in the process of widespread and rapid change, and all worldviews are faced with the challenges of advocating for, accepting, adapting to, incorporating, resisting, or rejecting these changes, or some combination of these responses.
How is your group dealing with these challenges? What are their concerns? What events or developments or pressures have their attention? How are they responding?

17. Focus of Your Research and Presentation
E-Bibliography
Conclude your Power Point presentation with an electronic bibliography of at least 10 reseources that you feel are helpful in understanding this group and its worldview.
At least some of these bibliographic resources should be ones that were created or produced by persons who were or are, themselves, members of the group you have studied.

18. Presentation Guidelines
Your group will have 30 minutes for your presentation.
All group members should play a meaningful role in delivering your presentation.
Have the organization and flow of your presentation well planned in advance.
When speaking, make good eye contact with your audience. Try not to “read” from notes or from slides.
Please do not sit. Stand front and center when speaking to your audience.

19. Multimedia Presentation
Oral lectures
PowerPoint slides
Visual images
Videos
Music
Web sites
Charts, graphs, maps
Artifacts or objects

20. (No Regular Class)Work Time
Relevant Dates
Group Work Days
(No Regular Class)
(No Regular Class)Work Time
Presentation Days
Nov. 02
Nov. 18
Nov. 30th
1,2,3
Dec. 2nd
4,5,6
Dec. 7th
7,8,9

22. Course Web Site
Assessment Folder