Naturalism

Last week we began dealing with the ideas of worldview. We discussed how each person’s worldview is going to be unique to them, and that it effects how that individual interprets the world around them. Now we do not have time to dive into each worldview that exists this year, but We are going to look at a coulple of the big ones as well as What a Biblical worldview looks like.

Play Naturalism video

So, Naturalism is the worldview that the physical universe alone exits, with no supernatural influences. Meaning if you can’t observe it with your five senses, or its not there. No God, no spirit, no heaven, nothing that isn’t observable.

So, I want you to describe the following things using only your 5 senses.

Rocks,

Numbers,

Water,

Values,

Friendship,

Beauty,

Love,

Good, and Evil.

Misconception: A meaningful life can be found in the things of this world alone.

To the naturalist, meaning is the hardest thing for them to really handle. Science and observation are great tools for discovering answers to “what something is, or How something works (to an extent), but to offer a why… thats a different story. Take the rainbow for instance, What is it… light seperated into its different frequency of waves. How is it? the water and dust in the air act as a prism seperating the light into those waves. But why is it beautiful? ehh beacause your brain interprets it that way… Why does your brain interpret it that way… ehh chemecal reations… why why why.

Meaning, the why the world exists is not something that you can observe all you can diffenitavely observe is that it does exist. Good, evil, beauty, love, are all concepts that are not quatifiable, so they must not be real.

Meaning of life follows suit. If you believe that all that exists is this world alone, then the meaning of life must be found in the world.

So people seek to find fulfilment, or meaning in thier own lives. There is within us a longing for something. We wish to have purpose, we long to feel fulfilled. The naturalist has nothing to fill the need so then whatever gives them pleasure must be good.

Want to know why america is going down the tubes morally? because most are naturalists, Therefore they think that right and wrong aren’t real and there is no god to judge them for thier deeds. So long as enough people agree, then you can make anything right. And the more they go down that path, the worse itll get.

Romans 1:28 ESV

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Illumination: Without a relationship with God, life in this world is meaningless.

The Bible paints the picture that creation happened for a reason! Humaninty was created for a purpose. We aren’t just a cosmic accident, rather we are specailly made in the image of God designed to have a relationship with our creator. The biggest problem with naturalism is its narrow minded idea of reality. If the creation exists, there must be a creator. If that creator has the abilty to create, then he can also reveal himself to us. The beauty of the Bible is that it is the word of God. He has revealed himself to us, so that we can know Him.

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

God is good and wants to have this relationship with us. He wants us to fulfill our purpose. In the same way that we long for more to this life, he longs to provide that fulfillment.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.