What is ultimate reality - the really real?

Worldview

“Worldview is a set of beliefs about the most important issues in life” Ronald Nash (1992, p.16) went on to establish that every “rational human being” has a worldview regardless of their level of awareness of its existence. He also introduced the term “conceptual scheme” to describe the systematic organisation of beliefs in a worldview.

What is prime reality – the really real?

Description - Issues raised

There are several issues raised by Sire’s first question of “What is prime reality – the really real?”. Sire has observed and attempted to present the construct of worldviews through the seven and eighth additional question, however not all the worldviews has ready answers to the questions.

Worldview Outline

Christian Theism

Sire referred to class Protestant definition of God in the Westminster Confession 2.1 to define God, the prime reality, who is “infinite and personal”.  This God of the Holy Scriptures is “triune, transcendent, immanent, omniscient, sovereign and good”.

Naturalism

Naturalism dismisses the existence of God but place emphasis on the existence of matter, cosmos. The prime reality of Naturalism is the physical universe.

Eastern Pantheistic Monism

Eastern Pantheistic Monism propose that prime reality is the full integration of the soul and creation. The soul is the cosmos, God is the person and the person is god. There might be varying levels of integration (oneness) of the person with the cosmos. According to Sire, Eastern Pantheistic Monism also suggest that “Om” as ultimate reality.

New Age

In New Age worldview, the self is the prime reality (soul, integrated, central essence of each person. This is different from Eastern Pantheistic Monism emphasis of the person as part of the entire cosmic consciousness, God. In New Age, the person is the centre of universe, everything exist in relation to the person.

Personal position – core components of Christian Worldview relating to formation & transformation of Australian Society

I believe in the God of the Holy Scriptures. I believe that, God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is not limited by human beings’ understanding. My relationship with the triune God is tantamount in my prime reality. The external reality continues to exist apart from me.