Four Major Worldviews Competing With Christianity

Christianity has always had competition. In this 21st century, there are four major competitors for the Christian perspective:
NATURALISM – secular.
SUBJECTIVISM – skeptical.
PANTHEISTIC MONISM – mystical.
ISLAM – radical.
All four have certain attractions for non-Christians. Although it is impossible in this article to cover a book-length topic such as this, I want to hit the highlights of each of the four.

Naturalism

The number of people worldwide who embrace a godless perspective remains a relatively small percentage compared to the large majority of people who embrace some type of religious perspective. However, naturalism seems to be growing in popularity and is well entrenched in many parts of the Western world, especially in the centers of academia.

Naturalism, as traditionally defined, is that system that regards the natural, material, and physical universe as the only reality. The world of nature is viewed as the whole show - all that actually exists. All reality is located within the exclusive domain of the space-time world of physical objects, events, processes, and forces.

Naturalists reject a supernatural realm of existence thus eliminating God as a creator and sustainer of the universe and eliminating the human spirit as a part of man.

However, the house of naturalism is a house divided. There is much disagreement about how naturalism is applied and the thinking that is required. These points might be considered its so-called family traits.

Everything is reducible to or explainable in terms of nature itself as studied and interpreted by science.

Many naturalists assert that the material physical brain with its related electrical-chemical processes produces or causes the mind analogous to how an engine causes exhaust or fire causes smoke.

Naturalists tend to consider science as having privileged status with regard to knowledge. Science is either the only reliable method or the best, most dependable method for obtaining genuine knowledge.

Naturalists staunchly defend some form of evolutionary theory because biological evolution is the only naturalistic explanation for life and the appearance of man.

Appeals to the supernatural to explain events transpiring in the world of time and space are considered unscientific and illegitimate.

Naturalists are typically atheistic (there is no God) or agnostic (either they do not know personally that God exists or that no one can know it).

From the naturalist perspective morals, values, and societal norms find their source, foundation, and justification in the conventional agreement of humankind. Great confidence is placed in science and technology’s capacity to solve human problems.

The problems with naturalism are these:

How can non-rational physical factors succeed in producing the rational faculties of human beings and how can the human brain and mind be trusted to deliver rational content?

Science alone cannot explain some of the most meaningful human realities of life (for example, moral values, aesthetics, and meaning).

Naturalism appears to be self-defeating in that it does not address the internal needs of humanity such as moral obligations by which they will be held accountable for their moral actions.

Subjectivism

Subjectivism is characterized by an utter skepticism about the nature of reality and truth. So-called “truth” can only be subjective, relativistic, pluralistic, and socially constructed. An objective foundation for truth, meaning, purpose, and values simply does not exist.

There is a deep suspicion and ultimate rejection of religious systems, governmental systems or any organized systems in general.

The language of communication is also considered arbitrary and incapable of clear meaning.

The problems with subjectivism are these:

Many of this position’s central claims involve inherent contradictions. This bold rejection of systems becomes a system itself. And to assert that no one has access to the ultimate nature of reality requires that very access. Only knowing about ultimate reality can reveal the position that access to it is denied.

Certain elements of subjectivism seem practically unworkable, it not self-defeating. The exaggerated approach to language is a strong indicator of a basic incoherence and practical unworkability as a social objective.

Pantheistic Monism

One philosophical and religious orientation that permeates the East and has become increasingly popular in the West during the last half century is pantheistic monism. This perspective proclaims that all reality is an undifferentiated one, and that unity is God or Ultimate Reality and may be summed up in the statement “All is God and God is All.”

Everything that is real – including the universe and the spirits of human beings – is one in essence with this single all-encompassing Ultimate Divine Reality which is not material or physical (as the naturalists believe) but rather totally spiritual in nature.

In large measure, this perspective is reflected in the popular beliefs of the New Age movement rising in the West.

Adherents to this basic viewpoint may have different orientations and special points of emphasis. This ultimate God in all is considered totally impersonal and therefore amoral with no boundaries or divisions. Some forms of pantheism proclaim that the physical universe only appears to be real but is in actuality an illusion.

If all is one (monism) and the one is God (pantheism), then it follows that man is God. The spirit of each human being is the cosmic spirit.

Prominent is the belief in reincarnation where after death, the spirit returns in a new and different body and life.

The problems with pantheistic monism are these:

The “distinct true self” idea logically conflicts with monism’s basic assertion that there are no distinctions.

How will the human spirit be reunited with God or Ultimate Reality when the spirit is already (and has always been) one with God?

Reincarnation and monism, two necessary features of the pantheistic monism perspective, are logically incoherent. Reincarnation involves the need for many distinctions, whereas monism insists there are no distinctions at all.

How did personal agents such as human beings come forth from a completely impersonal source? And isn’t personhood a greater state than the impersonal?

Islam

The three aforementioned competitors with Christianity are basically competitors for the mind and are certainly dangerous in that respect. But I consider radical Islam the most dangerous competitor because of its desire to destroy physically all non-Islamists – a competition not only to change the minds but also to destroy the bodies of non-Islamists.

Going into the history of the Islamic religion is not within the scope of this article. But the following are some of its attributes:

Islam believes in working to please God (Allah) by the 5 Pillars of Islam:
1. Profession of faith in Allah.
2. Prayer bowing and on your knees facing Mecca 5 times a day.
3. Almsgiving (approx. 2.5% of your net worth).
4. Fast of Ramadan once a year.
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

For radical Islam, there is a 6th Pillar: called Jihad. The concept of Jihad can refer to either an internal spiritual striving or exertion against one’s own evil inclinations, or to military warfare against all infidels (non-Islamists).

The problems with Islam are these:

The religion of Islam claims to be part of the biblical tradition, However, Islam also claims that both the Old and New Testament scriptures are incomplete and corrupted.

The Muslim has an unknowable God. A Muslim can know the will of Allah but cannot know his character or essence or have a personal relationship with him. With relationships as one of life’s most meaningful experiences, the importance of a personal relationship with God cannot be overstated.

Islam’s view of man seems unrealistic and even naïve since human beings are said to be born innocent with an unequivocally good and positive nature.

In conclusion, there is much competition with Christianity in the 21st century – a battle for the mind and even a war of the body. I pray that Christians and non-Christians may not be misled and that the power of the message of Christ will continue to draw people to conversion and new birth in Christ and that Christians will sustain themselves in the truth of Christian knowledge.

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