top of page

What are the major worldviews (belief systems) that attempt to explain the universe and what happens after death?

Summary Point

Subpoints

There are 3 prominent worldviews that attempt to explain the universe and what happens after death: Theism, Pantheism, Atheism.1

  1. Theism  (theos, Greek for ‘God’): 

    • God is separate from the universe and created the universe.2

    • God sustains the universe and performs supernatural acts within it.2

    • God is infinite and personal.2

    • Examples of Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.2

  2. Pantheism  (pan, Greek for ‘all’; theos, Greek for ‘god’): 

    • Pantheism is the belief that an impersonal god exists and literally is the universe.1

    • Examples of Religions: Zen Buddhism, certain forms of Hinduism, Christian Science, many forms of ‘New Age’ religions.1,2

  3. Atheism  (a, Greek for ‘no’; theos, Greek for ‘god’): 

    • Atheism is the belief that all that exists is the physical universe.2

      • In other words, there are not supernatural or spiritual forces.

    • The philosophy of materialism, all that exists is matter, is consistent with atheism.3

  4. Agnosticism  (a, Greek for ‘no’, gnosis, Greek for ‘knowledge’)4:

    • Someone who claims they don’t know if God exists.4

      1. Weak form: Does not know if God exists, but it is possible to know.4

      2. Strong form: God’s existence is not knowable.4

    • NOTE: This is not considered one of the seven worldviews, but rather the lack of a position.

  • Other worldviews2:

  • These belief systems lack contemporary support. Deism may be the most popular.

    • Deism – God created the universe and exists beyond it, but does not act in it.2

    • Panentheism – “God is in the universe, as a mind is in a body.”2

    • Finite Godism – a god exists outside the universe and has limitations in its nature and power.2

    • Polytheism – There are many gods that exist outside of the universe, but act in it.2  No god is infinite (in nature and power) and typically each has its own domain  (Henotheism - one chief god over others).2

Links to other resources on this topic:

Anchor 1

Context:

  • What is a ‘worldview’? It is what you fundamentally believe about God and the universe in order to make sense of the world around you. Below are a formal definition:

    • Framework for how one views reality, which impacts beliefs about God, human nature, values, evil, destiny, etc.5 

    • A network of basic beliefs about reality by which we interpret the world.6

  • There are seven worldviews; but, three are the most prominent. All religions fall within these broad worldviews.

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Geisler & Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, p.22.

  2. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.786.

  3. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.744.

  4. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.10.

  5. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.785.

  6. Lisle, The Ultimate Proof of Creation, p.25.

bottom of page