Theological Term of the Week

monism
“[T]he view that everything is ultimately one,” that “nothing that exists is really distinct from anything else that exists.”1

• Scriptural that disproves monism by affirming the Creator and creation distinction:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

• From What’s Your Worldview? by James N. Anderson:

[T]he Monist has to say that the apparent diversity we experience in the world is an illusion. The distinctions we make between things are only in our minds, because if those things were really distinct from one another, there would be more than one thing in existence.

Monism is a very radical philosophy. It has generally proven more popular in Eastern philosophies and religions than in Western ones. While it has enjoyed some sophisticated defenders over the course of history, it faces some quite formidable objections.  …

[I]t’s tough to live as a consistent Monist. Our everyday thoughts and decisions presuppose real distinctions between things: between your body and my body, between your spouse and my spouse, between your car and my car, between your credit card and my credit card, and so on.

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Heidelberg Catechism

Question 51. How does the glory of Christ, our head, benefit us?

Answer: First, by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly graces upon us, his members. (a) Then, by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Book Review: What's Your Worldview?

Click image to purchase on Amazon.comAn Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions by James N. Anderson

I’ve been quoting What’s Your Worldview? in my recent Theological Term posts, and I figure if I’m going to quote a book that much, I ought to at least do a short review, right? (See below for a list of theological terms containing excerpts from this book.)

As the subtitle says, this is an interactive book. You won’t—and shouldn’t—read it straight through. The introduction tells us it’s a little like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, with questions to answer (or choices to make) that determine where you go next in the book. 

James N. Anderson is associate professor of theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

In this case, the questions for the reader found in Part 1 are the big questions with the answers that together form a philosophical view of reality—or a worldview. The reader’s answers finally take them to a page that briefly identifies and describes their own worldview, and also points out a few of its shortcomings.

The interactive concept behind this book is clever, making a difficult subject accessible—and James Anderson’s humor makes it entertaining, too. If you’re looking for an in-depth treatment of the subject of worldviews, you’ll be disappointed, but What’s Your Worldview? can’t be beat as a beginner book especially suitable for high school and college students, or anyone else who needs an introduction to worldview thinking.

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Theological Terms with excerpts from What’s Your Worldview?:

• finite godism
• materialism
• panentheism
• pantheism
• Pelagianism
• polytheism
• relativism
• skepticism
• Unitarianism