A Monergism Publication
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
In a world filled with competing voices and ideologies, this guide, Faulty Worldviews, seeks to uncover the limitations and inconsistencies of various popular philosophies and beliefs that shape our thinking today. From atheism to expressive individualism, each worldview promises answers to life’s deep questions—about purpose, identity, morality, and destiny—but ultimately falls short because they all reduce human beings to something less than the fullness God intended. Each perspective explored here is shown to lack a coherent foundation for the very values they attempt to uphold, such as meaning, justice, or human dignity. In contrast, Christianity offers a holistic and truth-filled view of reality that recognizes both our material and spiritual natures, grounding our identity in the image of God and providing a framework for true justice and purpose.
This book isn't just a critique; it’s a call to examine the root of our beliefs and to understand why only a worldview anchored in God’s unchanging truth can satisfy the soul’s deepest needs. Whether you are familiar with these philosophies or encountering them for the first time, this exploration offers clarity and insight into why the Christian faith provides answers that resonate with the realities of human experience, offering hope, coherence, and redemption in a broken world.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Atheism - Asserts that there is no God or divine being, which implies a purely material universe where all reality, including human life, is the product of random, unguided forces.
Communism/Marxism - or International Socialism is a statist ideology advocating for communal ownership of the means of production, aiming to eliminate class distinctions and distribute resources equitably, through state control, as a solution to perceived economic and social inequalities.
Existentialism - Focuses on individual experience, often suggesting that life has no inherent meaning apart from what one personally defines, leading to subjective and potentially nihilistic views.
Expressive Individualism - A worldview that elevates self-expression and personal authenticity as the ultimate goals of human life
Fascism - or National Socialism, is a statist ideology advocating for control of the means of production that promotes authoritarianism, nationalism, and a powerful, centralized state.
Feminism – Advocates for gender equality, sometimes expanding to intersectionality, viewing social structures primarily through power dynamics and gender.
Globalism - The ideology that emphasizes centralized global cooperation and governance to address international challenges, often prioritizing global objectives over national sovereignty and individual freedoms.
Humanistic Psychology - Pioneered by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, this perspective emphasizes self-actualization and personal growth, viewing humans as inherently good and capable of finding meaning through self-discovery and fulfillment of needs, as in Maslow's Hierarchy.
Kleptocracy - A form of governance where leaders exploit their power to accumulate personal wealth and resources at the public's expense, often through corruption and embezzlement.
Materialism (Consumer) - – Defines reality as solely physical, reducing life's purpose to material success or pleasure, often seen in consumerism and wealth-focused values.
Materialism (or Physicalism) – Asserts that all reality is composed of physical matter alone, denying any non-material aspects such as the soul, spirit, or any supernatural dimensions, and often associated with scientific atheism or naturalism.
Modern Gnosticism - The belief that true identity is found in the inner self, often viewing the physical body as secondary or even irrelevant to one's "real" identity, in contrast to the biblical teaching of an integrated body and soul created by God.
Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is an economic framework that argues governments with sovereign currencies can fund unlimited spending by creating money, without relying on taxes or borrowing, as long as inflation is managed.
Nihilism - Believes life lacks objective meaning, purpose, or value, reducing human life to random chance.
Paganism - Paganism is a belief system rooted in polytheism, nature worship, and mystical practices, often seeking spiritual power and guidance through created things rather than the Creator.
Pantheism – Belief that God and the universe are identical, viewing all of reality as divine.
Panentheism - The belief that God pervades all of creation while also existing beyond it, viewing the universe as contained within the divine but not fully encompassing God's entirety.
Pluralism - The belief that all religions and worldviews hold equal validity, asserting that no single truth can claim superiority, and promoting tolerance through the acceptance of diverse perspectives as equally legitimate paths to meaning and morality.
Political Idolatry - The excessive devotion to or reliance on political leaders, ideologies, or outcomes as a primary source of identity, hope, or security, rather than placing ultimate trust in God
Postliberalism - A political and social ideology that rejects the neutrality of classical liberalism, advocating for a state-directed society where unified moral and cultural values are enforced through both governmental and corporate structures.
Postmodernism - Rejects objective truth and meta-narratives, seeing all knowledge as socially constructed and often skeptical of traditional structures and norms.
Progressivism - An ideological departure from classical liberalism, advocating large-scale government intervention to drive social change and reshape society according to ideals of equality, justice, and collective welfare, often prioritizing state power over individual liberties to achieve its vision.
Relativism - The belief that truth and morality are subjective and vary based on individual perspective or cultural context, rejecting universal standards of right and wrong.
Scientism & Naturalism - The belief that only scientific or material explanations are valid, viewing all aspects of existence—including human thought, morality, and purpose—as products of physical processes alone, without any spiritual or supernatural dimension.
Secularism - the belief that society should operate independently of religious or spiritual influence, basing public life, law, and moral judgments solely on human reason and empirical knowledge rather than divine or religious authority.
Statism - The belief that the state should hold centralized control over society and individual lives, often prioritizing state authority as the primary solution to human and social issues.
Stoicism – Emphasizes rationality, personal resilience, and acceptance of fate, gaining modern traction through its practical advice on managing emotions. – Emphasizes rationality, personal resilience, and acceptance of fate, gaining modern traction through its practical advice on managing emotions.
Technocracy - A system of governance in which experts, scientists, and technical specialists hold decision-making power, aiming to shape society based on data, efficiency, and specialized knowledge rather than political or ideological considerations.
Technological Determinism & Transhumanism– Holds that technological development shapes culture and societal values, often viewing technology as a solution to all human problems.
Utilitarianism – Judges right and wrong based on outcomes, aiming to maximize happiness or minimize suffering.
Woke Ideology - Woke ideology is a belief system that seeks social justice through enforcing conformity to a narrow set of progressive values, often prioritizing group identity and systemic restructuring over individual responsibility, open dialogue, and personal transformation.