One’s Worldview is One’s Holodeck
Recreating Reality in Our Image
Our two previous posts looking at worldviews defined the term worldview and the force outside of ourselves that molded our worldview {Can You Define Your Worldview?; Your Virtual Reality Worldview}. Our understanding of worldview changed as our understanding probed deeper into the complexities of worldview formation. This worldview article will explore our responsibility in the formation of our worldviews. The holodeck in Star Trek, The Next Generation {STTNG} was designed to respond to the operators wishes, within certain poorly defined limits; yet, it often revealed the flaws in human understanding. This is a metaphor for our part in designing our worldview: poorly defined flaws.
What is a holodeck? “The Holodeck is a fictional plot device from the television series Star Trek. It is presented as a staging environment in which participants may engage with different virtual reality environments.” Basically, the holodeck allowed STTNG writers to introduce conflict in a universe which was supposedly beyond violence. The operator would set certain protocols and define the reality to be experienced and immerse one’s self in a self-contained reality in which the operator is always the hero/heroine. The required interaction between the operator and computer mirrors the formation of each person’s worldview. However, as seen in the above graphic, reality is never very far away, portal out of the holodeck and resumption of true reality. Unfortunately, STTNG is not our reality.
True Worldview Operation Mirrors
Today’s Virtual Reality Devices
Our reality is that one’s worldview is self-contained within our minds. Each person’s worldview becomes the lens or device by which each person interprets incoming reality and through which each person’s responses are developed. In a sense each person is isolated by one’s worldview; i.e., how else could each person be the hero of his or her own worldview unless isolated from all others? Reality in this current sinful, material universe is drab, violent, degrading and senseless because of sin.
Remember, each person is conceived and thus born in sin before ever expressing sin in thought, word or deed (Ps 51:5). From the moment of conception each person’s mind is ungodly, filtering out all truth based on God separating the person from God hoping to avoid judgement for sin. Since God’s truth is the basis for coherently understanding this world and our role in the world what results is incoherency (Ro 1:18-25). This ungodliness has several results. All thoughts, words and deeds are devoid of God’s truth and thus are considered unrighteous. However, man hates a vacuum. Each person uses aspects of this material, physical creation to build his or her own version of truth; i.e., worldview. In God’s eyes each person becomes a fool for exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, etc. God did not and does not punish foolish sinners. He lets each of us enjoy the fruits of our sin even though this always results in degradation, violence and division. This is expressed in degrading passions of the body which is the most destructive of all sinful expressions (1Co 6:18). Our worldview seeks to explain away these consequences by blaming God or those truths that must necessarily demand belief in God in order to create a beautiful narrative of life.
Worldview designed to elevate self
Worldviews seek Justification
Each of us goes clothed in our own worldview in order to appear special. It readily becomes apparent that strength in numbers is required to stand against opposing worldviews (Ro 1:32). Thus, allies are conjoined based on similar worldview beliefs concerning right, wrong; good, evil; God, religion; etc. The actual purpose is to show each group more righteous, less worthy of judgment, than competing groups (Ro 2:1-3). The ultimate goal is to have only one worldview throughout the world uniting sinful mankind against God. However, there is always a flaw in the system; always.
Just as every force field has a flaw
So also does every worldview
Fans of the Hunger Games movie series will recognize this example. In the above graphic there is a subtle flaw revealing the presence of a force field {middle left}. Every worldview also has a built-in flaw. Acceptance of God’s truth reveals a clear, unambiguous explanation of life. However, due to sin, even sin in the flesh, this cannot be accomplished; not even by Christians (1Co 13:12).
Each worldview is built from a sinful mind. No one seeks after or understands God’s truth (Ro 3:10-18). Thus, to defend one’s self as being righteous, one must conflate right and wrong. The underlying basis of all sin is covetousness, desire to possess what others possess or appear to possess (Ex 20:17). Covetousness seeks to obtain through a three-prong attack: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (1Jo 2:15-17). These are the same flaws that blind Satan and his minions as they also have a sinful worldview (Jo 8:44). All work together to obtain what they cannot possess: elimination of God; thus, from this flaw proceeds violence of all kinds including wars (Ja 4:1-4).
Do not be deceived, the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God and refuses to submit to God’s law and truth; thus, sinners can never please God (Ro 8:7-8). Religion is simply a works-based system designed to appear godly while empowering the flesh. Paul wrote that in these last days the norm will be sinners whom he bluntly describes as being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, not loving good, without self-control, ungrateful and most important of all: having the appearance of godliness but denying its power (2Ti 3:1-5). These are people trapped in their sinful worldviews to such an extent that they rage in violence against those who disagree. Paul tells believers to avoid such people in that we are to speak the truth of the gospel but we can never make alliances with those who not only cannot please God but do not want to please God. This is the result of all worldviews. Their appeal to majority, appeal to force, appeal to false authority will all fail as these logical fallacies will melt before the truth of Christ at His appearing.
But, what of the Christian? Does not God and His followers also have worldviews? No and Yes! God has no worldview. God is absolute truth and His nature contains His absolute truth. God needs no explanation as nothing is hid from Him; in fact, through Christ He has created all things (Jo 1:1-3). However, Christians, saved sinners, do have worldviews they developed while lost and continue to develop because of the foolishness of the flesh. It is through the trials and tribulations of life that God begins to strip away, a tiny bit at a time, one’s worldview. However, most Christians wail and moan at God for exchanging their lie for His truth. While we inhabit our body of flesh we will always be trapped to some extent in our worldview; it is our weakness. This is why Christians are not to rely on self but on Jesus and the indwelling Spirit who guide us to our desired haven in Christ. For now we see as through an enigma, a puzzle. But, when we see Christ we will know Him then as He already knows us now.
Just like the holodeck in STTNG created conflict and danger; so also do our worldviews. Satan has built his worldview Matrix and each sinner seeks a place congruent within this worldview. However, sin is rebellion and secretly each sinner builds their own worldview to show themselves less evil than many others. One does need a worldview to explain truth, origins, meaning of life, etc. God gives us all these in His word and the Spirit to teach us how to understand and apply His truths (1Co 2:14). The lost person does not have nor does he, she, wish to have the Spirit teach them. They hate God. We should not misuse the Gospel to reach numbers as many have done. They are blinded by Satan and will remained blinded until God calls out those whom He has chosen to save (2Co 4:1-4). We must be content to live and proclaim the truth of God even if no one believes less we also become confused in the blindness of our sinful worldviews.