CJUS 340 Criminology Christian Worldview Paper
Anthony Washington
Liberty University, 201840 Fall 2018 CJUS 340-D02
LUO Dr. Markus D. Dupree
October 29, 2018
Christian Worldview Paper
“A worldview is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and
the world. "[It's] any ideology, philosophy, theology, movement or religion that provides an
overarching approach to understanding God, the world and man's relations to God and the
world," says David Noebel, author of Understanding the Times” (Tackett 2006). A Christian
worldview can change the way in which a person handles certain things that happen in their life.
This Christian worldview affects a person’s ability to decipher their surroundings, the world’s
climate, and maintain a biblical standard throughout their life. Even as I reflect on my pursuit of
my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, I think back to the kind of perspective that I had on
criminal justice as a whole. I had this negative perception of the criminal justice system, which
has been shaped by multiple factors, such as my upbringing.
“Criminology is the study of the law enforcement and criminal justice system. The word
“criminology” is derived from the Latin crimen, which means accusation, and the transliterated
Greek logia, which has come to denote "the study of," therefore the study of crime” (Roufa
2018). In my novice understanding of criminology, I believe that a more thorough grasp of this
study can help law enforcement personnel consider new ways to quell crime rates. From my
perception and my vantage point, this is not happening as well as it should be. There is not
enough of a comprehension of crime and its social effect on society. Now I could be wrong but
this is just what I have seen in America.
Being an African American in America, we tend to have a perception that the system
does not work in our favor. We have to fight against the system, not rely on the system to fight
for us. Now during my journey, my perception has not completely changed, however, it has been
altered. I have learned that the system is not perfect and it takes a lot of effort by people all over
the country to provide that security and justice to make the justice system work. I now realize
how difficult the decisions that law enforcement personnel have to make are. They must be
vigilant, cautious, always alert, always using their best discretion, and always knowledgeable of
the law. I have gained a newfound understanding of the difficulties that come with those
responsibilities.
During my 6 years I was in the military, I deployed and was stationed in adverse and
contested environments. There would be instances of hesitance or doubt that would creep into
my mind about our mission and purpose for being where we were. I constantly had to remind
myself of Psalms 37:23 which says, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he
delights in his way” (ESV). I realized that my assignment is very essential and critical to the
nation and the lives of those I help protect. Also as Christians, we know that the Lord has already
ordained our steps before the foundation of the earth. My prior biblical instruction has instilled in
me a Christian worldview in which I realize that although there are inconsistencies within the
criminal justice system, I know that God is ultimately in control.
References
Roufa, T. (2018, July 28). Criminology, the Study of Crime, Causes, and
Consequences. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is- criminology-974589
Tackett, D. (2006). What's a Christian Worldview? Retrieved October 25, 2018, from
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian-worldview/whats-a-christian-
worldview/whats-a-worldview-anyway
