America seems to be tearing itself apart with division in recent times – you don’t have to spend much time scrolling on Facebook or watching 24 hour news reels to see it… Conversations always devolve into a conflict between liberal vs. conservative, majority vs. minority, white vs. black, male vs. female. We feel frustrated and defeated when dialogues turn emotional and all progress is stalled. Often the opposing side of a heated political debate is dismissed as “crazy liberals,” “revolutionaries,” “bible thumpers,” or “racists” and real conversation or progress stops. The underlying reason for this conflict is individuals or groups operating with completely different and unreconcilable worldviews, which determine meaning, purpose, and moral authority. All humans worship and ascribe to something, which ties directly to our core belief (or lack of belief) about God/god/gods. As A.W Tozier writes “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
A Judeo-Christian belief system has been argued to be the standard starting point America’s morality (though not all would agree – decide for yourself), but regardless, according to PewResearch the total percentage of people who “Believe in God: absolutely certain” has dropped from 71% to 63% between 2007 and 2014, and that percentage has likely continued to drop between 2014 and 2020.
We no longer have a solid, mutual foundation of moral authority to stand upon when we enter these discussions. But the only way to overcome the urge to dismiss, categorize, and label those who disagree with our worldview is to truly seek to understand the other side’s worldview. Below is a summary of some of the worldviews that every person falls under. Everyone falls into one of these categories, and deciding not to choose probably lands you into the Nihilistic, Agnostic or Apathetic category.
The worldview we ascribe to is “the most important thing about us” and guides every moral judgement and interaction with the world. Here are some examples of how these worldviews translate into morality:
- Nihilism: Nothing has moral significance and everything is random – seek to maximize pleasure and minimize pain in this life.
- Agnostic: God may (or may not) exist, but is either irrelevant or unknowable, and therefore morality is by default defined by society or the individual.
- Deism: God does exist, but is either irrelevant or unknowable, and therefore morality is by default defined by society or the individual.
- Atheism: Life has meaning and morality that exists apart from God/god/gods. and therefore morality is by default defined by society or the individual.
- Atheism has offshoots such as Existentialism, Humanism, and Naturalism. Note that Communism is founded on the idea of Materialism (similar to Naturalism in that it states only the material world exists and there is no afterlife).
- Polytheism: There are many gods available for the individual to choose from, although none of them are authoritative. The individual gets to choose the god that most conveniently fits their beliefs.
- Relativism: Each individual defines their own truth and morality, and the individual should not be suppressed in any circumstance.
- Theism: God exists above mankind and is either impersonal or personal depending on belief system. God defines meaning and morality. Examples: Judaism, Islam, Christianity.
Before we delve deeper, let’s establish a few very basic assumptions:
- Every human has some level of moral reasoning. What if in the middle of a conversation with a friend they were to punch you in the face without prompting and break your nose? You will instantly feel angry about their action and the unfairness of the situation. These states of heightened emotion reveal a moral compass that is written within us.
- We cannot place our ultimate moral authority in the groups we belong to. Society defined morality has led mankind down some dark paths in history. Read Gulag Archipelago, Night, Escape from Camp 14, or watch documentary One Child Nation to explore this topic further.
- We cannot place our ultimate moral authority in our own intuitions. Our individual intuitions often lead us astray. In the past, we have sought to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, or simply numb ourselves to the difficulties of life. Where have these efforts led us? To heartbreak, broken relationships, addiction, mental illness.
Of course, society and our individual intuitions can be our moral guide at times, but we cannot ultimately trust in their reliability. If you disagree with these guidelines discuss them with a friend or mentor, or let’s continue the conversation offline. But assuming we can largely agree on these three guidelines above, we can make some conclusions: #1 eliminates the validity of Nihilism. #2 should make us very skeptical of any belief system where a human society determines morality. #3 should make us very skeptical of individual defined morality. So what are we left with by process of elimination? Theism and Christian Theism. Morality must be revealed from a source above and outside of mankind.
At this point of reasoning the question becomes: “How is God knowable, what is God’s character, and what does that mean for mankind?” Enter Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Below is a summary of the core concepts of those belief systems, and where they agree/disagree.
- Beliefs on God’s Character: Judaism and Christianity agree on God as described in the Old Testament: infinite, personal, good, omnipresent, omniscient, and all-powerful – the Creator and standard of morality. But “While there are some similarities between the perceptions of God in Christianity and Islam, there is no doubt that many ideas about God in Islam contradict what is revealed in the Bible. The Muslim understanding of the nature of God is very different from the image of God as revealed to man in the Bible and in Yeshua” Is There A Difference Between God And Allah? One example of this is that Judaism and Christianity share a belief in the concept of the Trinity, while Muslims reject the Trinity and emphasize the absolute oneness of Allah.
- Beliefs on Sin: Judaism and Christianity agree that man has turned away from an ultimately good God (sin) and needs redemption, while “Muslims believe that humans are sinners because Allah has willed it. They have no understanding similar to the Bible’s teaching that humans, not God, caused sin through rebellion against God.” Islam’s View of Sin and Salvation
- Beliefs on Redemption: Christianity claims mankind can receive redemption through faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was fully man and fully God. In contrast to Christianity, Judaism rejects Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah and Redeemer of mankind and thus must be redeemed of sin through Old Testament laws and rituals while they continue to await a savior for ultimate redemption. “The Quran’s teachings regarding salvation are inconsistent. On the one hand, the Quran teaches that salvation is based on purification by good deeds (Quran 7:6–9). A Muslim can become righteous through prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and living according to the Quran. Yet the Quran also teaches that Allah has predetermined every person’s destiny, and one’s righteous acts may or may not affect Allah’s decision (Quran 57:22). It teaches that everyone, both the righteous and the unrighteous, will be led into hell by Allah, before the righteous will enter heaven (Quran 19:67–72). Therefore no Muslim can know his or her eternal destiny in this life. Even Muhammad himself was unsure of his salvation (Quran 31:34; 46:9)” Islam’s View of Sin and Salvation
On issues of disagreement between these belief systems, we as individuals must pursue Truth and answer the following questions for ourselves:
- God’s Character: We use reason, personal experiences, and texts such as the Quran and Old Testament Bible to form our beliefs about God. Are Allah and God the same? What have you reasoned or experienced about God’s character? Is the Bible a reliable source of information about God’s character? Is the Quran a reliable source of information on God’s character?
- Sin and Redemption: If sin exists and mankind has fallen away from God, how do we gain redemption? Through our own works, or through God’s initiative? Was Jesus reliable and who He claimed to be? Who was Muhammad, is his message reliable?
Where do you lie in your beliefs about God? “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Where do we find hope when we fall short of God’s morality as individuals?
Practically apply what we’ve learned:
- Firmly decide your own belief about God’s existence and character according to the world views above. Talk to a trusted friend, pastor, mentor to help you work through your beliefs on God’s character. “then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
- First seek understanding of the others’ worldview. Before engaging in a political or ethical discussion, recognize that unless the person you’re engaging with shares the same worldview the discussion has potential to turn hostile and should be navigated carefully. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20
- Search your soul for your source of hope for redemption. No matter what belief system you ascribe to, we can agree that we as individuals and our world have committed evil acts, turned our backs on friends/loved ones, and ultimately disowned Goodness and Justice (God). Is redemption earned through your works or our sense of being a “good person”? According to the Christian worldview, our only hope for redemption is through God’s grace and the sacrifice His son Jesus Christ in our place. Without the blood of Jesus, we as broken human beings are incapable of relationship with an ultimately perfect, good, and just God. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:16
