Article 2.2 - The Six Major World Views (Chart)

Every person sees the world through a worldview—a framework of beliefs that shapes how we understand truth, morality, government, and human purpose. Whether we realize it or not, these beliefs influence how we vote, raise families, interpret history, and define right and wrong.

This chart compares six major worldviews by showing how each one answers life’s most important questions.

What Is a Worldview?

A worldview answers fundamental questions such as:

• Does God exist, and if so, what is God like?

• What is real?

• How do we know right from wrong?

• Where did life come from?

• What is the nature of man?

• What is the purpose of government, law, and economics?

• How should history be understood?

Different answers to these questions lead to very different conclusions—and very different societies.

Christianity and Islam

Both Christianity and Islam begin with belief in God and acknowledge a supernatural reality. They share similarities in areas such as creationism and moral absolutes, but they differ significantly in theology, law, politics, and the role of the state.

Christianity emphasizes:

• A Trinitarian God

• Moral absolutes

• Limited government

• Justice, freedom, and order

• Stewardship of property

Islam, while also theistic, supports:

• A unitarian view of God

• Religious law governing society

• A theocratic political structure

These differences produce very different views of liberty, authority, and individual rights.

Secular Humanism and Marxism-Leninism

Secular Humanism removes God entirely, placing human reason at the center of truth. Morality becomes relative, law becomes man-made, and government authority expands to manage society.

Marxism-Leninism also rejects God but replaces individual liberty with collective control. It views history through class struggle and supports centralized state power over economics, law, and society.

Both worldviews:

• Reject moral absolutes

• Base truth on materialism

• Expand government authority

• Redefine human purpose

Cosmic Humanism and Postmodernism

Cosmic Humanism sees divinity within creation itself, emphasizing higher consciousness and self-law. Truth becomes personal and fluid.

Postmodernism goes further by rejecting objective truth altogether. Reality, morality, identity, and even history are seen as socially constructed and constantly changing.

These worldviews promote:

• Relativism over absolutes

• Emotion or experience over reason

• Cultural definitions of truth

• Instability in law, ethics, and identity

Why This Chart Matters

Worldviews are not abstract ideas—they shape real outcomes.

What we believe about God affects what we believe about law.What we believe about truth affects what we believe about justice.What we believe about human nature affects how society is structured.

This chart helps us compare these belief systems side by side and recognize that ideas have consequences.

Understanding worldviews is the first step toward understanding culture—and toward wisely engaging it.