Critical Thinking for Leaders-4

1

Worldview Assessment Instrument

Instructions: Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the

following statements. The statements describe thoughts or beliefs about worldviews. Please

answer the extent to which you agree or disagree with how well a statement describes your

own personal thoughts or beliefs. The first response that comes to mind is typically the most

representative answer so do not dwell too long on any one item.

1. God created heaven and earth. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

2. Every person in the universe is connected. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

3. Patriotism is one of the most important values a person can hold. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

4. When making decisions, an important factor to consider is how the results will benefit me. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

5. A key value in my life is asking what I can do for my country. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

6. People need to recognize that patriotism is essential to their well-being. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

7. My career goals and accomplishments are based on God’s purpose for my life. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

8. Reality is whatever a person understands it to be. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

9. One person’s beliefs are no better than another’s. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

10. Poverty and poor living conditions are the basic cause of people doing bad things. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

2

11. It is appropriate to break rules that hold me back. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

12. There are many people who depend on what I can accomplish. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

13. I do whatever seems good to me at the time. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

14. Bad things happen because we are unenlightened. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

15. It is my patriotic duty to be well educated so I can contribute to the welfare of my fellow citizens and country.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

16. The world was created through natural means. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

17. The primary value of an education should be judged by how much it can help a person earn in their lifetime.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

18. A person must believe in Jesus and follow him to experience life to its fullest. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

19. I try to live my life in a way that demonstrates God’s love to those around me. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

20. Life’s equilibrium means the good things I do will outweigh the bad. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

21. The bad things that have happened throughout history demonstrate humanity’s need to continue to evolve.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

3

22. Reality can only be judged by whether something fulfills my purpose. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

23. Evolution helps explain why people behave the way they do. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

24. There is no such thing as absolute truth. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

25. Tragedies and sufferings will eventually be eliminated as the human race advances in science and technology.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

26. If those who have the wealth would share it with others, we could solve most problems that exist in the world.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

27. All knowledge eventually leads a person to understand that we are one with the universe. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

28. I could achieve great things in my career if other people would stop telling me what to do. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

29. War and hunger could be cured if we just provided enough money to those areas of the world experiencing them.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

30. History reveals how humans have evolved throughout time. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

31. Laws and rules can be broken when they don’t apply to a particular situation. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

4

32. God’s purpose for my life is that I attain economic security. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

33. I seek to discover my inner goodness. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

34. I will always support my country whenever it is threatened. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

35. Jesus Christ is the son of God. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

Scoring & Interpretation Scoring Instructions

The Scoring Table section below will help you calculate your total score for each worldview.

The table contains each item number. Go through the Worldview Assessment Instrument (WAI)

and enter the number from your answer for each item statement in the table below. If you

answered item 1 as shown in the example below you would enter a 7 in the row directly below

the number 1 in the scoring table.

1. God created heaven and earth. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Disagree

Neither Agree

or Disagree

Somewhat

Agree

Agree Strongly

Agree

Scoring Table Total for Row

Christian 1 7 18 19 35

(Enter values for each item.)

Materialism 10 17 26 29 32

(Enter values for each item.)

Individualism 4 11 12 22 28

(Enter values for each item.)

Nationalism 3 5 6 15 34

(Enter values for each item.)

Naturalism 16 21 23 25 30

(Enter values for each item.)

Relativism 8 9 13 24 31

(Enter values for each item.)

Pantheistic/Monism 2 14 20 27 33

(Enter values for each item.)

5

Interpretation

The following chart provides you with a way to visually depict your responses. There are 35

maximum points that can be scored for each worldview. Most individuals have a predominant

worldview but are affected by other worldviews. Each worldview will have some points. In fact,

because the value of Strongly Disagree is 1 point, you will have a minimum of 7 points for each

worldview. Few individuals have such a purist worldview that they are unaffected by competing

worldviews. Most individuals are influenced by a multiplicity of worldviews, particularly in a

pluralist society. For each worldview, place a dot at the level in the chart equivalent to the points

scored for each worldview. This value is found in the total column in the Scoring Table on the

previous page. After you place a dot on the chart for the value of each worldview, connect the

dots with a line so that you create line chart that depicts your worldview. Mark the highest peak

in the chart by drawing a star or asterisk.

T o ta

l P

o in

ts

35

28

21

14

7

0 Christian Materialism Individualism Nationalism Naturalism Relativism Pantheism

Worldview

Worldview Development

The completed chart lets you compare the influence each worldview has on your personal

worldview. The highest point in the chart for Christians should be in the first column. The height

of the line chart for other worldviews helps you to visualize the influence these worldviews have

on your personal worldview. This chart can help you in developing a strong Christian worldview.

It is possible for Christians to refine their worldview and reduce the influence of countervailing

worldviews through spiritual formation.

Step 1: Begin developing and refining your worldview through prayer and guidance from the

Holy Spirit to transform your mind. This principle is expressed in Romans 12:2 (English

Standard Version) where Paul states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by

the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good

and acceptable and perfect.”

Step 2: Learn to use the Bible as the basis for filtering all thoughts you encounter. However, it is

important to recognize that reading a book written in a different time and culture can be better

understood by reading how Bible scholars interpret the Bible. Commentaries, Bible

encyclopedias, and Bible dictionaries are good resources to help interpret the Bible.

6

Step 3: Recognize the most essential Christian beliefs are based on a few indispensable idea and

it is best to avoid unessential concepts when seeking to improve your Christian worldview. The

essential beliefs of Christianity are best illustrated by the Apostles’ Creed. The essentials are

what C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity, G. K. Chesterton considered in his book Orthodoxy,

and Chuck Colson wrote about in The Faith. As we seek to better understand Christianity, we

should consider a dictum that many evangelicals support: “In essentials unity; in non-essentials

liberty; in all things charity.”

Step 4: Engage in a Christian worldview training program, such as the Centurions (sponsored by

the Colson Center for a Christian Worldview) or The Truth Project (from Focus on the Family),

or the AnchorsAway (http://anchorsaway.org/) program for teens. There are many other good

programs teaching about the Christian worldview, but these are three programs from trusted

organizations. One of the most important points to learn from these programs are the ways in

which culture impacts an individual’s worldview. Books, movies, public schools, government,

radio, television, colleges, music, art, and other important aspects of our culture are constantly

influencing our worldview. Christian worldview training programs help a person become more

aware of how to filter these influences and process them in a manner where one critiques and

then deliberately accepts or rejects their influence based on their consistency with a Christian

worldview.

Step 5: Become part of a community that is interested in discussing Christian worldview issues.

This may be a small group, a Bible class at a church, or a group of friends who gather regularly

and consider life issues and concerns, along with world events, to help us process the

experiences and knowledge we gain through a Christian worldview. Refinement of our

worldview takes practice and a conscious effort. It must be approached in a very deliberate

manner or eventually we find our Christian worldview being corrupted by other worldviews.