Haitian Culture Haitian Culture vs vs

Biblical WorldviewBiblical Worldview

The Cultural OnionThe Cultural Onion(Donald Smith) (Donald Smith)

BehaviouralBehavioural AuthorityAuthority ExperienceExperience The “Core”The “Core”

The Cultural OnionThe Cultural Onion

BehaviorBehavior

The Twelve Languages of Culture:The Twelve Languages of Culture:VerbalVerbal Kinesic Kinesic

WrittenWritten Optical Optical

NumericNumeric TactileTactile

PictorialPictorial Spatial Spatial

ArtifactualArtifactual TemporalTemporalAudioAudio

OlfactoryOlfactory

The Cultural OnionThe Cultural OnionAuthorityAuthority

IdeologiesIdeologiesFORMAL Ideological Authorities :FORMAL Ideological Authorities :

Bible, Constitution, CreedsBible, Constitution, Creeds

Social structuresSocial structuresCompulsory Structures: Compulsory Structures:

governmentsgovernmentsVoluntary Structures: clubs, Voluntary Structures: clubs,

churcheschurchesPeer RelationsPeer Relations

Interpersonal NetworksInterpersonal NetworksFramework for physical survivalFramework for physical survival

The cultural OnionThe cultural Onion

ExperienceExperienceHistoricalHistorical

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

PersonalPersonal

The Core of CultureThe Core of CultureDetermines the shape of the outer Determines the shape of the outer

layerslayers

The heart and essenceThe heart and essence of the of the culture.culture.Also called Also called World viewWorld view, , Core beliefs,Core beliefs,

ThemesThemes

ReproductiveReproductive

The The CoreCore

The core is invisible, hidden beneath The core is invisible, hidden beneath layers of defenselayers of defense

The core is highly resistant to changeThe core is highly resistant to change

The core changes very slowly, The core changes very slowly, measured in decades and measured in decades and generationsgenerations

The “open window” is throughThe “open window” is through

personal experiencepersonal experience..

It is only by personally experiencing It is only by personally experiencing

God Himself in Christ, God Himself in Christ,

that we can gain a new core,that we can gain a new core,((a new heart). 2 Cor 5:17; Rom: 12:2; Gal 5:16a new heart). 2 Cor 5:17; Rom: 12:2; Gal 5:16

The nature of a WorldviewThe nature of a Worldview

The way one sees life and the world in The way one sees life and the world in general.general.

The set of beliefs adopted by someone The set of beliefs adopted by someone on the most fundamental questions of on the most fundamental questions of life.life.

A mental structure allowing a person to A mental structure allowing a person to organize his/her basic beliefs.organize his/her basic beliefs.

A map of life (The big picture).A map of life (The big picture).

Why is Worldview important?Why is Worldview important?

Ideas govern the world. We live within Ideas govern the world. We live within systems.systems.

Beliefs come before behavior.Beliefs come before behavior.One’s thinking significantly influence One’s thinking significantly influence

his/her behavior.his/her behavior.Teaching and Preaching must address Teaching and Preaching must address

the fundamental questions.the fundamental questions.The call of the Bible to the renewing of The call of the Bible to the renewing of

the mind (Rom 12:2)the mind (Rom 12:2)

The elements in the The elements in the development of a worldviewdevelopment of a worldview

•Religious Education/ or lack ofReligious Education/ or lack ofFamilyFamilySchoolSchoolLanguageLanguageCultureCultureSocial status/ economic statusSocial status/ economic statusPersonal ExperiencePersonal Experience

Big questionsBig questionsa worldview has to addressa worldview has to address

Ultimate RealityUltimate RealityReality outside of Reality outside of

selfselfKnowledgeKnowledgeOriginOrigin IdentityIdentityPlace/“location”Place/“location”

MoralityMoralityValuesValuesHuman Human

ConditionConditionSolutionSolutionHistoryHistoryDestinyDestiny

Major componentsMajor components

Concept of GodConcept of GodConcept of réalité externe***Concept of réalité externe***Theory of knowledgeTheory of knowledgeTheory of valuesTheory of valuesConcept of human natureConcept of human natureSense of historySense of history

Christian theismChristian theismGod: infinite, personal, perfect, God: infinite, personal, perfect,

transcendenttranscendentWorld: creation ex nihilo, real, World: creation ex nihilo, real,

dependentdependentKnowledge: discovery, revelationKnowledge: discovery, revelationEthics: universal, objective, Ethics: universal, objective,

prescriptive, based on God’s characterprescriptive, based on God’s characterHuman: Imago Dei, rational, moralHuman: Imago Dei, rational, moralHistory: linear, designed by GodHistory: linear, designed by God