Summit Ministries

Summit Ministries Worldview Chart

Click on a link in the worldview chart below to view the explanation in this box

Theology

[Greek: theos (God) + logos (word)]: The study of the existence (or non-existence), nature, and attributes of God.

Biblical Christianity Theology: Theism (Trinitarian)

The theology of Christianity is the affirmation of the existence of an intelligent, powerful, loving, just, and awesome God who exists in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From the Christian perspective, "In the beginning God" (Genesis 1:1) is the foundation for all meaning. Christianity further proclaims that this powerful, intelligent God who created all things in heaven and earth is the same God who took upon Himself human form in the person of Jesus Christ and died for our sins. Christianity proclaims a God who is both Mind and Heart—who not only created the world, but also loves it so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for it. Christian theism declares in large letters, "God is," "God created," "God loves," and "God judges."

• Jesus Christ is the "fullness of the Godhead."
• Genesis 1:1; Colossians 2:9

Islamic Theology: Theism (Unitarian)

Islam reveres Allah, whom they consider to be the one and only God, the only creator and master of the universe. This can be seen in their primary declaration of faith: "There is no god but (one) God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God." Muslims also hold that this god is the same one worshipped by Christians and Jews.

Secular Humanism Theology: Atheism

Secular Humanists believe that there is no God, that science and the scientific process have made God obsolete. Humanists believe that only matter—things we can touch, feel, prove, or study—exists and has always existed. Man is only matter (no soul or spirit). No supernatural explanation is needed for the existence of this matter.

Marxism-Leninism Theology: Atheism

Marx was an atheist before he became a socialist. Engels and Lenin agreed that religion was a drug or "spiritual booze" and must be combated. To them, atheism put into practice meant a "forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions," which would include the economy, government, law, etc. The Communist Party has not deviated from its founding fathers' attitude toward God or religion. This explains the persecution of the church in countries with a communist government.

Cosmic Humanism Theology: Pantheism

The New Age movement believes that all things are divine, or a part of God: people, rocks, trees, stars, etc. Since everything and everyone is a part of God we have to get in touch with the "god within" to achieve total cosmic unity. Some adherents of Cosmic Humanism resort to channeling, meditation, Ouija boards, or hallucinogenic drugs to contact the god within. (In a very real way, these methods are the "sacraments" of the New Age religion.)

Postmodern Theology: Atheism

Postmodernists are not atheists in the same sense that Secular Humanists and Marxist-Leninists are. They may look the same superficially, but the motivation for denying the existence of God has nothing to do with the lack of scientific evidence. Rather, they would assert that, as Nietzsche said, "God is dead" because He's unbelievable, not because He's unprovable.

Philosophy

[Greek: philo (love) + sophia (wisdom)]: The love of wisdom; the attempt to discover an explanation for the whole of existence or reality.

Biblical Christianity Philosophy: Supernaturalism (Faith and Reason)

The philosophical quest that most appeals to Christians is the attempt to obey 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." What makes philosophy non-Christian, what the Bible refers to as "vain and deceitful philosophy," is basing philosophy upon the "traditions of men, after the basic principles of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8). The single most important philosophical truth in the Bible is that Jesus Christ is the Logos (word, or mind) of God. Christian philosophy says Christ the Logos is the explanation for the universe and everything in it. The major charge against Christianity in general and Christian philosophy in particular, is that it is unscientific. Christians claim that the Christian doctrines of God, creation, Logos, design, purpose, law, order and life are reasonable, and consistent with the findings of science, history, and personal experience in a way that the vain and deceitful philosophies of dialectical materialism and philosophical naturalism will never be.

• Jesus Christ is the "Logos of God."
• Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Colossians 1:17; Revelation 19:13

Islamic Philosophy: Supernaturalism (Faith and Reason)

Because, like Christianity, Islam is a revealed religions, some adherents consider the fusion between the Islamic faith and the discipline of philosophy (or reason) to be impossible. Among those who do think it's possible, however, there are at least three approaches. The first is to use philosophical arguments to prove the assumed tenets of faith to be true. The second is to attempt to prove independently of one's religious beliefs that these beliefs are, in fact, sound. The third approach is to try to apply analytical philosophy to one's religion, in this case, Islam.

Secular Humanism Philosophy: Naturalism

Naturalism says that only matter exists—things you can touch, feel and study. The Humanist trusts the scientific method as the only sure way of knowing anything, so if something cannot be observed, tested, and experimented on, it doesn't exist. Since you can't observe God, hell, the human mind or spirit, or conduct experiments on them they can't—and don't—exist.

Marxism-Leninism Philosophy: Dialectical Materialism

Materialism is another name for Naturalism. The dialectic says that in everything there is a thesis (the way things are) and an antithesis (an opposition to the way things are), which must inevitably clash. The result of the struggle and merging that comes from the clash is the synthesis, which becomes the new thesis. This new thesis will eventually attract another antithesis, and produce a new synthesis. For Marxists, Dialectical Materialism is the driving process that moved matter from inorganic state into life, then to animals, then humans, and finally organized social institutions like governments and nations.

Cosmic Humanism Philosophy: Non-Naturalism

Because the Cosmic Humanist believes God is in everything, and that everything is a part of God, he must conclude that everything, in essence, is spiritual. The things that we can see and feel are only a manifestation of spirit, and all matter will melt away when universal consciousness is achieved. This view leads the New Ager to believe all matter can be controlled by an enlightened mind, one that is in touch with the god within. Health, wealth, even a good sex life, are all perceived as the result of "mind over matter."

Postmodern Philosophy: Anti-Realism

The belief in an objective reality is rejected by Postmodernists. Rather, they assert, reality is the subjective construction of human thought. As a consequence, they also deny universal truth, rejecting anything that smacks of a metanarrative, which is an explanation that purports to unify the world in a broad, over-arching story.

Ethics

[Greek: ethikos (custom)]: The study of conduct, moral values, duties, actions, and ends.

Biblical Christianity Ethics: Moral Absolutes

God's moral nature is absolute and unchanging. God always hates evil and loves good. The Bible is of supreme importance because it tells us the difference between the two, providing a framework on which a completely unambiguous ethics must be built. According to biblical Christianity, ethical relativism leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Christian ethics is inseparable from theology for the simple reason that Christian ethics is grounded in the character of God. Rather than believing in some ethical scheme bound to society's ever-changing whims, the Christian answers to a specific moral order revealed to man through both general revelation and the special revelation of the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ.

• Jesus Christ is the "Light"
• Genesis 2:9; John 1:9; John 3:19–20

Islamic Ethics: Moral Absolutes

The Muslim understanding of the Qur'an and the practices of Muhammad serve as the foundation for Islamic ethics. This foundation happens within the context of worshipping and submitting to Allah. All human beings are called to "command the good and forbid the evil" in ever sphere of life. In addition, it is believed that people have been given the means to discern the will of God and to adhere to it.

Secular Humanism Ethics: Moral Relativism

Since the Humanist rejects the existence of God, human beings get to decide on standards and values. Humanists believe that science, reason, and historical experience are sufficient guides for figuring out what is right or wrong in any situation. These standards will not always be the same, as each person has a different background and reasoning. Therefore, the standards and values—ethics—are relative. The Humanist Manifesto II states, "We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing not theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest."

Marxism-Leninism Ethics: Proletariat Morality

Marxist ethics don't come from a sense of absolute rules, but from the cause of communism. Whatever advances the proletariat (the working class) is morally good. Whatever advances the cause of communism is morally good, whatever hinders its advance in social and human evolution is morally evil. The killing fields of Cambodia, the Soviet Union and the Ukraine, as well as the mass murders in China were the practical results of proletariat, or class morality.

Cosmic Humanism Ethics: Moral Relativism (Karma)

Since each individual is divine, they need only get in touch with the universal god-consciousness within to act morally. According to this standard, virtually every mindset and action is justified—with the notable exception of adhering to a worldview that believes in moral absolutes (such a view supposedly stunts a person's ethical progress).

The aspect of karma says that the total effect of a person's actions and conduct during each phase of existence determines the person's destiny.

Postmodern Ethics: Cultural Relativism

If philosophical truth (what we can know about reality) resides in the local community, it follows that moral truth (how we should behave) resides in the same community. Since, as the Postmodernist suggests, there is no "grand narrative" telling us what is real and how to behave, each community develops its own "little narratives" to fulfill those needs.

Biology

[Greek bios (life) + logos (word)]: The study of living organisms.

Biblical Christianity Biology: Creationism

Only the creationist perspective can adequately account for design in nature, since it postulates a Designer, a law-giver and an orderly cause, while the materialist can only posit chance. Christians believe the creationist model as described in scripture better fits the facts of science than the evolutionary model. Christianity trusts the authority of Genesis and declarations concerning creation, such as Mark 10:6 and Colossians 1:16. Science and Christianity are demonstrated to be compatible and to declare in unison that God "created all things" (Ephesians 3:9). The Bible gives us information about God and His universe; science gives us information about God's universe.

• Jesus Christ is the "Life."
• Genesis 1:17; John 1:4; John 11:25; Colossians 1:16

Islamic Biology: Creationism

Islamic creationism is the belief that the universe (including humanity) was created directly by Allah as explained in the Qur'an. While contemporary Islam tends to take religious texts literally, it usually views Genesis as a corrupted version of God's message.

Secular Humanism Biology: Neo-Darwinian Evolution

The theory of Neo-Darwinism purports that natural selection acts on the genetic variations within individuals in populations and that mutations (especially random copying errors in DNA) provide the main source of these variations. Because positive mutations seem to be rare, Neo-Darwinism contends that evolution will be a slow, gradual process. Without naturalistic evolution, there is no Secular Humanism. Anything else would demand a Creator, which would mean that man is not the source of all things. Humanists believe that science has proven the theory of evolution to the extent that it is no longer a theory but a scientific fact. According to this "fact," man is the most highly evolved of all creatures, and is now responsible for directing and aiding the evolutionary process.

Marxism-Leninism Biology: Punctuated Evolution

Marxism-Leninism also depends on the theories of evolution and spontaneous generation. Karl Marx made it very clear that the origin of the species contained the scientific basis for his views on the class struggle. However, Marxist dialectical materialism called for something more than just the gradual progress of natural selection. The dialectic needs a theory with clashes and leaps. This is satisfied with punctuated equilibrium, which says that each species stayed the same for long periods of time (equilibrium) and evolution happened through occasional ruptures or leaps (punctuations) from one species to another.

Cosmic Humanism Biology: Cosmic Evolution

The New Age movement sees mankind as evolving from disharmony to harmony, until evolution has guided men and women out of the material into becoming completely spiritual beings. Evolution is central to Cosmic Humanist doctrine, because it ensures mankind's eventual progression to godhood.

Postmodern Biology: Punctuated Evolution

Though Postmodernists are not comfortable with the traditional theory of evolution because of the metanarrative aspect of it, they feel the most comfortable with punctuated evolutionary theory because of the aspects of chance and discontinuity.

Psychology

[Greek: psyche (soul) + logos (word)]: The study of the soul, mind, and spirit.

Biblical Christianity Psychology: Mind/Body Dualism (Fallen)

Only Christianity, with its emphasis on the spiritual and its understanding of man's fallen condition (Romans 1-2) can truly address the innermost concerns of the individual. Christian psychology helps people get in touch with their real selves only because it allows them to recognize their own sinfulness and consequently their need for a Savior. Our greatest need is not self-esteem; rather, it is the realization that we are sinners in rebellion against God. "Christianity starts off," says Kilpatrick, "by saying that we're not OK the way we are. There is something wrong with us—a twist in our natures. And the twist is not removed by liking yourself, but by starting to live in Christ." Only after receiving Christ as Savior can people begin to understand their value as creations in God's image and lead triumphant lives. Rather than demanding that the individual ignore his conscience, the Christian calls for him to recognize that his guilt is real, then to face his guilt and repent. Biblical Christianity teaches moral responsibility, whereas Humanism and Marxism blame individual moral failings on society or the environment.

• Jesus Christ is "Savior."
• Luke 1:46–47; Titus 2:13

Islamic Psychology: Mind/Body Dualism (Un-fallen)

While Islam affirms that human beings exist beyond the death of the body—thus affirming some form of distinction between the body and the soul—its view of human nature diverges from the Christian understanding. This is because the Muslim view of human nature does not include the attribute of fallenness. Rather than seeing Adam and Eve's sin as giving every human being a sinful nature, Islam sees their disobedience as having been completely forgiven, thus leaving no trace in the generations that have followed.

Secular Humanism Psychology: Monism (Self-Actualization)

This psychology focuses on man's inherent goodness and predicts that every individual can achieve mental health through the fulfillment of physical or material needs. This is self-actualization. Monism means that man is only body, that no soul, mind, or conscience exist. If man is only matter, then his actions are simply the result of mechanical impulses. This notion, called behaviorism, is inconsistent because it directly contradicts the Humanist's atheistic theology and naturalistic philosophy, which claim that man, is the master of his fate.

Marxism-Leninism Psychology: Monism (Behaviorism)

Behaviorism says that everything a person does is the result of two purely material reasons: the individual's physical makeup and the influence of the environment on a person's nervous system. The brain is just a collection of nerves and blood vessels and tissues that have been programmed to react a certain way. The programming is done by a person's environment: his education, surroundings, family, background, etc. Just like Pavlov conditioned his dogs to salivate when they heard a bell, humans are conditioned to feel patriotic when they see a flag, or to rescue children from drowning. This conclusion follows logically from their materialist philosophy (only matter exists). However, Marxism has a problem if this is all the further they go. If every man's actions are programmed, how could any individual consciously choose to revolt? The Marxist must water down behaviorism to encourage the worker to actively, consciously strive for Communism. The Marxist's belief in Pavlov's "second stimuli" of language allows the Marxist to claim that while man's actions are largely determined, the individual can obtain a measure of freedom in his use of and response to the stimulus of language. In this way, the Marxist is able to cling to his behavioristic assumptions and still claim that the worker may choose to join the revolution.

Cosmic Humanism Psychology: Higher Consciousness

Society and the environment, according to the New Age movement, stifle our knowledge of the god within. Thus, the aim of psychology should be to cause each individual to realize that they are fundamentally perfect and therefore should trust their intuitive urges. According to the New Age doctrine, a man's true self would never urge him to contribute in any way to dis-unity.

Postmodern Psychology: Socially-Constructed Selves

Within the Postmodern worldview, there's neither a clear-cut nor a single answer to the question "Who am I?" According to these psychologists, there is no single, separate, unified self. Rather, we are made up of many selves.

The way that we come to this multiplicity is through the collective influences of various social factors, including language, geography, family, education, government, etc. Therefore, rather than having a static nature, we are a social construction.

Sociology

[French socio (social, society) + Greek: logos (word)]: The study of social institutions and society.

Biblical Christianity Sociology: Traditional Family, Church, State

Christian sociology is based on the proposition that both the individual and the social order are important to God, mankind and society. Christ died and rose again for each person as an individual; God also ordained social institutions to teach love, respect, discipline, work and community; family, church and state are the three most important of these. Christian sociology focuses both on society as a means for human cooperation in accordance with God's will, and on the individual as a vital part of various social institutions in society.

• Jesus Christ is "Son."
• Genesis 4:1; Luke 1:30-31; Isaiah 9:6

Islamic Sociology: Polygamy, Mosque, Islamic State

Like Christianity, the family, worship of God, and the state are central to Islamic teachings. Of course, there are substantial differences. While most Muslims practice monogamy, the Qur'an permits a man to have four wives upon certain conditions. Regarding the worship of God and the government, Islam does not distinguish between social institutions and the state. It is a comprehensive reality—the state is to be as much Islamic as is the local mosque.

Secular Humanism Sociology: Non-traditional Family, Church, State

Humanists use sociology to explain the huge gulf between their view that man is capable of perfection and the real world of evil. They say civilization and culture shape the individual. Thus, man is evil primarily because his cultural and social environment are evil, not through any fault of his own—society and culture have influenced man's actions and have therefore stifled this inherent goodness. One of the most stifling of human institutions is the family. Government sponsored education provides the most desirable method for abolishing outdated social institutions and ensuring the development of a free society.

Marxism-Leninism Sociology: Classless Society

A society in which everyone is both the owners of the means of production and their own employees. In this scenario, there is no need for government because every man can be trusted to act responsibly and rightly, which also negates the need for the church or family.

Cosmic Humanism Sociology: Non-traditional Family, Church, and State

To explain the all-too-obvious evil done by man, the Cosmic Humanist resorts to blaming traditional society—especially the central principles of Western Civilization. Various New Age leaders blame different aspects: technology, male-dominant norms (including those of the traditional family), the free-enterprise system, a central government, and dogmatic monotheistic religions. This results in a rebellion against all traditional values without examining their reason for existence.

Postmodern Sociology: Sexual Egalitarianism

The Postmodern sociology seeks to even the playing field by emphasizing the value of those typically considered on the cultural fringe, such as the poor and oppressed. Unfortunately this emphasis often turns into a demonization of those who have enjoyed positions of power such as white males.

Law

[English: lagu (code, rules)]: The study of principles of conduct or procedure which are expected to be observed.

Biblical Christianity Law: Divine/Natural Law

Christian law consists of both natural and divine, or biblical, law originating in the very character of a righteous and loving God. Divine law is eternal because God is eternal. It is so eternal and permanent that someday God will use it to judge the world (Acts 17:31) in a judgment based on natural and revealed law (Romans 2:12f). God established human government and the rule of law primarily to keep in check man's sinful nature and passions (Romans 13:1–4). Because of the Fall, human history reflects a continuing effort by men to substitute man-made law for God's law. Christians believe that when God's laws are obeyed, men and societies thrive. The Christian concept of human rights involves the biblical doctrine of man's creation in the image of God. These rights, which carry with them specific responsibilities, are unalienable. God's Word and nature's law are sufficient for mankind to establish a legal system that exemplifies man's creative image, but does not soft-pedal his depravity.

• Jesus Christ is "Lawgiver."
• Genesis 3:11; Genesis 49:10; Revelation 5:5; Isaiah 9:7

Islamic Law: Shari'ah Law

Governing many aspects of day-to-day life, Shari'ah Law is taken from four different sources: the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the Ijma', and the Qiyas. Shari'ah refers to the body of laws Muslims believe are applicable, while fiqh is the human endeavor to understand and apply those laws. Muslim jurists do not have as their goal the making of laws, but the understanding or knowledge of a law deemed to already exist. In contrast to biblical Christianity, however, Shari'ah does not reveal the nature of God, only his will.

Secular Humanism Law: Positive Law

In Secular Humanism, the state is given sovereignty, which is entirely rational because there is no higher power to be taken into consideration. Just as man is seen as the final word in ethics, the world state is seen as the only source for legal "truth." The Humanist believes that crime is more the fault of the social order than an inherent flaw in the criminal.

Marxism-Leninism Law: Proletariat Law

In Marxism-Leninism, sovereignty is given to the proletariat. Marxists generally trace law back to the concept of private property. Law was devised by the propertied class to protect its property. Marxists refer to this a bourgeois law. The basis of proletariat law is to protect social or state property. Socialist law grants certain human rights but only such rights as assist the advancement of socialism and communism, or only such rights as advance evolution. Once the full socialist system is victorious, however, the proletariat class experiences its victory of communist paradise and law ceases (along with the state).

The biological theory of evolution plays a significant role in Marxist legal theory. There are no legal absolutes because mankind is evolving and law is evolving with it. There is no eternal lawgiver, and there are no eternal legal principles. Legal principles assisting man in his evolution are just; all others are unjust.

Cosmic Humanism Law: Self-Law

Individual autonomy means that each person gets to decide what is right and act for himself. Any need for laws and legislation will quickly fade away as we grow closer to achieving god-consciousness. The unenlightened people who still believe mankind is inherently evil require laws, but once this outdated concept is exposed as a lie the world will function in complete harmony.

Postmodern Law: Critical Legal Studies

From a Postmodern perspective, the source of knowledge and justice within the Western paradigm is the root of the problem. They insist that Western law, which grew out of Christianity and the Enlightenment, reflects white male bias. They attack reason and objective truth, preferring the means of truth preferred by women and minorities, namely, that of storytelling. For this reason, Postmodernists are intent on eliminating religious roots and transcendent qualities from Western law, desiring more fragmentation and subjectivity, and less objective morality than the Judeo-Christian tradition demands. In the end, they are intent on creating and using their own brand of social justice merely for left-wing political purposes.

Critical legal studies, then, becomes the means to discover the subjective and biased intent of the law.

Politics

[Greek: polis (city)]: The art of governing a city, state, or nation.

Biblical Christianity Politics: Justice, Freedom, Order

Biblical Christianity recognizes the state as a God-ordained institution (Genesis 9:6, Romans 13:1–7, 1 Peter 2:13–17). Christianity believes in the depravity of man (Jeremiah 17:9) and his moral responsibility and therefore that government is a necessary institution—even to the imposition of the death penalty (Genesis 9:6, Romans 13:1–4). However, government has limited obligations, not totalitarian powers. The Bible calls for limited government, falling somewhere between no government (anarchy) and total government (totalitarianism). Caesar has his role, but God has also appointed separate roles for the family and the church.

• Jesus Christ is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
• Psalm 9:6; Luke 1:33; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16

Islamic Politics: Islamic Theocracy (Global Islam)

Global Islam means that all nations would be ruled under an Islamic theocracy, which is simply a national government set up under the rule of Allah's divine sanction as expressed in the Qur'an and Shari'ah law. Though early Islam spread primarily through force, this methodology does not enjoy as much widespread support though it is still practiced by many Muslims.

Secular Humanism Politics: Liberalism (Secular World Government)

Humanists believe that world government is the next logical step on man's evolutionary road to utopia as man is now conscious of his evolution and is responsible to direct it. Also, a goal of Humanism is world peace, and a global state can best achieve it. The state, directed properly, plays a central role in guiding man. As Julian Huxley said, "To have any success in fulfilling his destiny as the controller or agent of future evolution on earth, [man] must become one single inter-thinking group with one general framework of ideas..."

Marxism-Leninism Politics: Statism (Communist World Government)

Eventually, the proletariat throughout the world will rise up, throw off the chains of bourgeois oppression, and seize the means of production as well as political power, thereby establishing a worldwide "dictatorship of the proletariat." When this occurs, mankind will be taking its next major evolutionary step toward the coming world government. Marxists are willing to call for a one-world dictatorship, or state, of the proletariat because they will control such a government through Marxist-Leninist law. The Marxist believes that once every trace of bourgeois ideology and all the remains of capitalistic tradition have been eradicated a fully communist society will exist. In such a society, government will become unnecessary and wither away.

Cosmic Humanism Politics: New World Order

As with law, the need for politics and government only exists because some individuals refuse to get in touch with their true selves. The trend toward a one-world government is perceived by Cosmic Humanists as a positive sign that we are evolving away from our need for government toward spiritual unity or finding the "oneness" with everything that is the real basis of all spirituality.

Postmodern Politics: Leftism

Postmodernists believe that white males from Western culture have been the only ones to enjoy power in the past few centuries. So, rather than aligning themselves with any one party, they seek to empower the powerless, that is, women, minorities and homosexuals. This is done in the name of social justice and identity politics.

Economics

[Greek: oikos (house) + nomia (rule)]: The rule or management of resources, whether by an individual or a society.

Biblical Christianity Economics: Stewardship of Property

Christians begin their economic theory with an assumption about human nature. The Bible declares that man is sinful. Another biblical precept—the concept of justice—also plays an important role for the Christian. The most desirable economic system promotes justice by protecting the rights of individuals from infringement by others. If all men were inherently good, one might not have to worry about individuals denying the rights of others; but man is not inherently good. Therefore, the Christian believes the best economic system would contain basic checks and balances that can guarantee the protection of human rights. Applying this criterion, the Christian believes the free enterprise system to be more compatible with his worldview than other economic systems. Economic systems that check injustice and grant men responsibility—in terms both of private property and economic decisions—can allow men the freedom to act with all the dignity of beings created in God's image. This, acc ording to the Christian view, is the important end of economic theory: offering men not riches or luxury, but the freedom to seek fulfillment through understanding their role in God's universe.

• Jesus Christ is "Owner."
• Genesis 1:28; Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:10-12; 1 Corinthians 10:26

Islamic Economics: Stewardship of Property

While locating their economics between the capitalism of the West and the communism of the East, Islamic economics is based on four foundational principles: unity, equilibrium (the responsibility to take care of the poor), free will, and responsibility.

Secular Humanism Economics: Interventionism

Most Humanists believe in some type of interventionist economy because this is more consistent with their belief that man is an evolving creature who will become capable of planning the perfect economy. Man, who must "save himself," must be in absolute control of all aspects of his universe. Thus, the world's economic system must be strictly controlled through central planning—that is, government must be granted authority over man's economic affairs.

Marxism-Leninism Economics: Socialism

Economics is central to Marxism-Leninism because Marx believed that the economic system of a society determines the nature of all legal, social and political institutions. Because the Marxist believes that modes of production form the foundation for society, he concludes that anything wrong with society is the result of imperfect modes of production. Societies have been improving because the economic systems on which they have been founded are gradually improving: slavery gave way to feudalism, and feudalism to capitalism. Because of flaws in capitalism, it will give way to socialism. In a socialist society, all private property will gradually be abolished and man will no longer oppress his fellow man in an effort to protect his private property. When all private property and consequently all class distinctions have withered away, the slow transition from socialism to the highest economic form, communism, will be complete. The ultimate aim of Marxism-Leninism is the creation of a political world ordeer based on communism that will solve the economic problem of scarcity so efficiently that each individual will see his every need, and most of his wants, fulfilled.

Cosmic Humanism Economics: Universal Enlightened Production

Traditional economic forms act as a hindrance to individual enlightenment, because they emphasize only the material. This does not mean, however, that Cosmic Humanists should not have possessions; rather, whatever is necessary for the happiness of New Agers will automatically flow toward them, if they stay true to the voice within. "Mind over Matter" becomes a way of life; if you are in harmony with the spiritual realm you can control the ebb and flow of material gain.

Postmodern Economics: Interventionism

Postmodern economics has as its goal the alleviation of human suffering. It seeks to do this through some form of government intervention within a free market environment.

History

[Latin: historia (information)]: The study of past places, persons, and events.

Biblical Christianity History: Creation, Fall, Redemption

Creation, Fall, Redemption is the view that sees a movement throughout history from the creation of the world, through the Fall of humanity, which destroyed their relationships with God, each other and the world, and finally to the redemption of this world when all will be restored back under God's good rule.

• Jesus Christ is the "Logos made flesh."
• Genesis 3:15; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:16

Islamic History: Historical Determinism (Jihad)

Like the Christian worldview, Islam affirms that history is not made up of a series of chance happenings. Rather, because Allah created the world, he superintends it throughout time, guiding it toward an expression of his will. As one expert puts it, "The world is a becoming entity, created by the will of a Designer and sustained by him for meaningful purposes. Historical currents take place in accordance with His will and follow established laws. They are not directed by blind chance, nor are they random and disorderly incidents."

Secular Humanism History: Historical Evolution

Humanists view earth's history from a strictly naturalistic vantage point, meaning there has been no supernatural influence. The history of man and the universe is the history of evolutionary activity. Propelled without design by "blind natural selection," history has moved in an upward direction from simplicity to complexity. Some Humanists view Artificial Intelligence—the computer—as the next step in historical evolution.

Marxism-Leninism History: Historical Materialism

History is the result of the dialectic (thesis, antithesis, synthesis) at work through biological evolution, economics, and the social order. Marxist-Leninists begin with eternal matter and spontaneous generation, and view history as a progression of biological and economic evolution which will ultimately result in a society of communist man in a communist paradise. Man is merely the consequence of these impersonal happenings, but man is given a minor role to play, to nudge history along a little faster toward its predetermined end.

Cosmic Humanism History: Evolutionary Godhood

Evolution is constantly moving mankind toward god-consciousness. Cosmic Humanists are assured, by the scientific fact of evolution, that man and all reality are progressing toward a unified enlightenment. The fittest already recognize this; the "unfit" are the Christians and other proponents of dogmatic worldviews (who act as a hindrance to evolutionary forces).

Postmodern History: Historicism

Because Postmoderns believe that historical facts are inaccessible, they believe that historians are simply left to their own imagination and ideological bent to reconstruct what happened in the past. Thus, history is closer to what we think of as fiction rather than conclusions reached as a result of an objective, scientific process. Because of their emphasis on the subjective, Postmodernists have adopted historicism as their approach to history, which is to say that all historical questions must be settled within the cultural and social context in which they are raised.