Your Unique Worldview
- John Scoble
- Jul 2
- 7 min read
Introduction
Through a complex web of conditioning over time, humans develop a personal and unique worldview. This worldview is often subtle and unacknowledged, but vitally important. The purpose of this paper is to examine how one’s worldview is formed and how it influences one’s behaviour. For the spiritual seeker, questions arise as to how conscious one is of their worldview and whether their worldview is altered as the spiritual journey matures.
What is your unique worldview?
A person’s worldview is the deep, often unspoken framework through which they interpret reality. It is the set of fundamental assumptions that shape how they understand ultimate reality (or God), the world, human nature, truth, morality, and meaning. It is the mental map by which a person navigates life. It helps a person to answer fundamental questions such as "what does it mean to be human?” and “how do we know what is true?”
Most people do not hold a ‘pure’ worldview. Their perspective is usually a mixture of family, religious, cultural, philosophical, personal and experiential influences. They may be partly inherited and partly chosen. They are often implicit rather than fully articulated. For some people, their worldview and its influence on their behaviour is not acknowledged or understood.
Imagine if you can the difference in worldviews between two people. The first is a wealthy white male educated Christian European. The second is a poor, black, female uneducated Islamic African. How differently will these individuals view the fundamental building blocks of life as a human being?
Understanding your worldview is fundamentally important. Richard Rohr writes:
“We would do well to get in touch with our own operative worldview. It is there anyway, so we might as well know what this highly influential window on reality is. It’s what really motivates us. Our de facto worldview determines what catches our attention and what we don’t notice at all. It’s largely unconscious and yet it drives us to do this and not that. It is surely important to become conscious of such a primary lens, or we will never know what we don’t see and why we see other things out of all perspective.” [1]
Let’s examine this issue by outlining two contrasting worldviews.
Example 1: Individualism versus Interconnectedness
An individualist worldview sees the person as primary. The self is understood as autonomous, self-determining, and responsible for shaping its own destiny. Freedom means independence; success is personal achievement; moral responsibility rests chiefly on individual choice. Society is often viewed as a collection of discrete individuals who cooperate for mutual benefit. Knowledge tends to emphasize objectivity and personal reasoning, and relationships are important but secondary to self-realization. Philosopher Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am,” This outlook has shaped much of modern Western political theory, economics, and liberal theology. In the abortion debate, for example, those proclaiming "a woman's right to choose about matters affecting her own body" would be operating from an individualist worldview.
An interconnected worldview, by contrast, sees the person as fundamentally relational. Identity arises from belonging — to family, community, ecosystem, and the wider web of life. Freedom is not independence but right relationship. Moral responsibility is shared and systemic, recognizing that actions ripple outward. Knowledge includes relational, ecological, and communal dimensions. The emphasis could be described as “I belong, therefore I become.” This outlook shaped indigenous communities and many current African societies. Many social justice advocates, including environmental protectionists would be operating from an interconnected worldview.
In short, individualism honours autonomy and separateness; interconnectedness honours relationship and mutual participation as the ground of meaning and being.
Is either of these a component of your own worldview? How does your own knowledge, experience and spirituality assess these contrasting worldviews?
Franciscan sister, Ilia Delio, wrote recently:
“The sciences speak in unison about the fundamental nature of existence. Quantum entanglement demonstrates that particles once connected remain mysteriously correlated across vast distances, suggesting that separation is, at some level, an illusion. Mind and matter interpenetrate rather than occupy separate realms… Evolutionary biology reveals life not as a collection of isolated units but as a continuous process of emergence, each organism a temporary crystallization of relationships extending back to the first self-replicating molecules… If this is the fundamental character of reality—relational, dynamic, interconnected—why does human civilization appear to be unraveling? Why do our social and political systems seem to operate in direct contradiction to what we know about the nature of existence?” [2]
Example 2: Classical Theism versus Process Theology
Classical theism (shaped by thinkers like Thomas Aquinas) understands God as immutable, impassible, omnipotent, and timeless. God is pure act, wholly perfect, and not affected by the world. Creation depends entirely on God, but God does not depend on creation. Divine knowledge and will are complete and unchanging; history unfolds under God’s sovereign providence. God’s love is steadfast but not emotionally altered by events.
Process theology (inspired by Alfred North Whitehead and developed by Charles Hartshorne) sees reality as dynamic and relational. God is not immutable in every respect but grows in experience through relationship with the world. Rather than coercive omnipotence, God exercises persuasive power, luring creation toward greater beauty and harmony. The future is genuinely open, and God is affected by creaturely freedom, sharing in the world’s joys and sufferings.
In short, classical theism emphasizes divine transcendence, perfection, and unchangeability. Process theology emphasizes divine relationality, responsiveness, and participation in an evolving cosmos.
Which of these contrasting theologies is more in line with your own worldview, and with your own understanding of God?
Process theology is often seen as more naturally aligned with modern science and evolution. The universe is an ongoing process of becoming; novelty, emergence, and genuine openness are built into its structure. Divine action is persuasive rather than interventionist, avoiding conflict with science.
Can I change my worldview?
Yes, humans can change their worldview, but usually not all at once. A worldview is not just a set of ideas; it is woven from experiences, relationships, culture, identity, and emotional commitments. Because of that, change tends to be:
Gradual rather than sudden
Triggered by crisis, suffering, intellectual challenge, or encounter
A reconfiguration of core assumptions rather than a total replacement, for example rejection of atonement theory
Sometimes there is a dramatic “conversion” experience, but even then, earlier patterns often remain beneath the surface.
Conclusion
Your worldview is subtle, unconscious and often unacknowledged. Understanding self, and correspondingly your worldview, is essential to awareness and vitally important for the spiritual journey. Your behaviour reflects your worldview. Time taken to analyse your worldview is time well spent. Adjustments are a sign of spiritual maturation.
Note: the author acknowledges the assistance of ChatGPT in succinctly summarizing the contrasting worldviews outlined in the examples above.
Footnotes
2. The Unravelling: How Monotheism Severed Humanity from Its Cosmic Roots, by Ilia Delio
Reflection questions
Upon reflection, what are the most significant components of your worldview?
Your family, social and religious upbringing as a child formed your initial worldview.
How has this changed as an adult? What experiences shifted it?
How do contrasting worldviews inform the immigration debate in the USA, UK and Australia?
Example 1 contrasts individualism with interconnectedness. Is either of these a component of your own worldview? How does your own knowledge, experience and spirituality assess these contrasting worldviews?
Example 2 contrasts classical theism with process theology. Which of these theologies is more in line with your own worldview, and with your own understanding of God?
FAQs
What is a worldview and why does it matter?
A worldview is the deep, often unspoken framework through which a person interprets reality. It shapes assumptions about ultimate reality, human nature, truth, morality, and meaning. It influences what we notice, how we make decisions, and how we behave. Because it is largely unconscious, becoming aware of it is essential for self-understanding and spiritual growth.
How do individualism and interconnectedness represent contrasting worldviews?
An individualist worldview emphasizes autonomy, personal achievement, and the self as the primary unit of meaning. An interconnected worldview emphasizes relationship, belonging, and shared responsibility within a wider web of life. These perspectives shape how people understand freedom, identity, and moral responsibility. The essay invites readers to reflect on which of these orientations aligns more closely with their own lived experience and spirituality.
How do classical theism and process theology differ in their understanding of God?
Classical theism views God as unchanging, perfect, and unaffected by the world. Process theology sees God as relational, responsive, and evolving in interaction with creation. These contrasting theological worldviews shape how people understand divine action, suffering, freedom, and the nature of the universe. The essay encourages readers to consider which view resonates more deeply with their own understanding of God.
Can a person change their worldview?
Yes, but usually gradually. A worldview is woven from experience, culture, relationships, and emotional commitments, so change tends to occur through crisis, intellectual challenge, spiritual development, or transformative encounters. Even dramatic conversions rarely erase earlier patterns entirely. The essay frames worldview change as a sign of spiritual maturity rather than instability.
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About the Author - John Scoble
John's journey began in the heart of a traditional Roman Catholic family in Sydney, where he was raised with steadfast faith and reverence. Now residing in the serene surroundings of St Lucia, Brisbane, alongside his beloved wife, John finds solace and inspiration in the tranquil rhythms of life. With four adult children and a cherished grandchild also calling Brisbane home, John's family is his anchor, providing love, support, and a sense of belonging.
While spirituality has always been a cornerstone of his life, it was three transformative events in 2012, including a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, that ignited a profound shift in John's spiritual trajectory. Embracing retirement as an opportunity for deeper exploration, John immersed himself in extensive reading and soulful reflection.
Over the course of a decade, this journey of self-discovery has led John to reevaluate and transcend many of his traditional beliefs, embracing instead the timeless wisdom and cosmic perspective inherent in Christianity. Influenced by luminaries such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, and Richard Rohr, John's spiritual evolution has been marked by a deepening resonance with the essential truths of his faith and a profound connection to the divine unfolding within and around him.
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