What Are the 4 Basic Questions of A Worldview?

Religious or not, humans have a natural inclination to interpret reality. This is called their worldview. One’s worldview is important because it answers the 4 basic questions concerning life: What is ultimate reality? What is a human being? What happens to a person at death? How do we know right from wrong? In this article, I would like to briefly mention what these questions seek to answer. But first, let’s define the term worldview:

“a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.” – James W. Sire

4 Basic Questions of a Worldview

1. What is ultimate reality? The physical world, spiritual world, both physical and spiritual,  purposeful or purposeless, chaotic or orderly.

2. What is a human being? A highly complex machine, a by-product of Darwinian evolution, a sophisticated animal, social species, or a person made in the image of God.

3. What happens to a person at death? Humans cease to exist, reincarnates into another life form, transforms to a higher state, meets the Creator and is judged.

4. How do we know what is right and wrong? Through social conformity, best interest of individual (survival of the fittest), Education, or the Lawgiver of the universe.