Toward A Christian Worldview - Faith Presbyterian Church Reformed

Chapter 2:
Christianity and the Basic Elements of Philosophy
The Basic Elements of a Worldview
As we have seen, a worldview or philosophy is a set of
beliefs concerning the most important issues of life. Therefore,
any well rounded worldview must be able to deal adequately
with the four most basic elements or tenets of philosophy: epistemology,
metaphysics, ethics, and politics.
First, epistemology is that branch of philosophy which is
concerned with the theory of knowledge. How do we know
what we know? What is the standard of truth? Is truth relative?
Is knowledge about God possible? Can God reveal things to
human beings?; if so, how?
Second, metaphysics has to do with the theory of reality.
Why are things what they are? Why is there something, rather
than nothing? How can there be unity amidst diversity in the
universe? Is the world a creation? Is it a brute fact? Is there purpose
in the universe?
Third, ethics concerns itself with how one should live. It is
the study of right and wrong thoughts, words, and deeds. What
is the standard for ethics? Is there an absolute law to which
every man must conform? Is there a logical reason for us to ask
why someone “ought” to do this or that? Is morality relative to
individuals, cultures, or historical periods? Or does morality
transcend these boundaries?
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