World View: the way that someone sees and understands world events, especially in relationship to their religious or political beliefs and ideas. (Dictionary). So the questions are – do you know what your religious and political beliefs and ideas are? Is there a congruence between your religious and political beliefs? One question would be – are your religious beliefs and ideas foundational to your political ones? They should (and yes, that is a value statement). Simple question – are you a born again believer religiously and a liberal politically? Don’t really know how this can happen since they seem diametrically opposed. Trying to marry these two foundations is impossible – like attempting to be a fiscal conservative and a liberal socialist.
I don’t believe we should compartmentalize any of the components that make up who we are. I know we all typically try to: my work life, my family life, etc. However, all these ‘components’ comprise who you are so by definition (mine) they must interact and influence each other – yes? Otherwise… you get into an oxymoron kind of reality and from that there is extreme difficulty in you making sense of yourself to yourself. We all seek an equilibrium and a sense of congruence; therefore why would we compartmentalize?
However, your world view… if someone were to observe your words (and how you speak them) and your behavior, would they know? Is your world view written in your life? Simplistically, when you consider a continuum, what does your face ‘say’ when it comes to your world view. Doom and Gloom? Rose-colored glasses? Those are examples of the two extremes and both should really be avoided. From a slightly different focus, the words out of your mouth will let the listener know where you are at this moment in time on the D-G to R-G continuum. I don’t believe anyone stays at one or the other ends of the continuum.
Why should you be concerned about your world view? Primarily because our world is shrinking, and doing so at an ever increasing rate. Another example: what your view is will influence what you purchase. How? Do you check to see what country is producing the product you are contemplating purchasing? For those of you living in the United States, do you purchase USA products or do you not even think about it. What about the foods you eat? Do you simply buy whatever it is that is on the grocery store’s shelf or are you more conscious about buying locally produced items?
Your world view does impact, significantly, what you do, how you go about doing what you do, but it is also a conscious and intentional act. Compartmentalizing is going to be increasingly more difficult to do. Then again… if it’s you, if it’s important to you then your religious beliefs and ideas WILL influence your political thought life which will determine how you respond to the world.
