Worldview Examples

Humans are intricately designed creatures who can think, feel, dream, reason and judge. We are all ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ as the Psalmist David says and we were designed with a unique perspective, a pair of glasses if you will, with which to observe and understand the world around us. This perspective is known as a ‘worldview’ which professor Ken Funk (2001) of Oregon State University defines as:

I have many beliefs of which a few ‘stick out’ and are very real and very true to me. Firstly, I believe in an omnipresent creator (God) who created everything we see around us today. I believe this because everything falls into place so perfectly and the human body and human mind are so complex that there is no way that all life appeared

Upon reaching America he is surprised at the wealth and freedom of America, which appeared so different from the ‘dark, decaying, depressing and destitute’ picture the Chinese government placed in Li’s mind (MLD, pg. 268). In fact, Li is shocked at how wealthy America is. On Christmas, Li is astounded at the amount of money his American friend (rather, caretaker) spends: $5000 U.S.D. Whilst that may not sound exceedingly extravagant to us, it meant a whole lifetime of hard work on Li’s fathers’ part - no wonder Li was flabbergasted! It is America’s prosperity that first plants a seed of doubt into Li’s mind which leads him to think that if the Chinese government lied to him about America they likely lied to him about everything (MLD, pg. 280). It is at this point that smaller details concerning the communist government should be mentioned. Li grew up believing that Mao was a god and ‘saviour, sun and moon’ (MLD, pg. 84). Li also grew up believing Mao’s Red Book to be much like the Bible is to Christians or the Quran to Muslims and so being sacred and bringing ‘guidance in our lives…[and keeping us from losing our souls]’ (MLD, pg. 85). At the same time, this ‘saviour’ and his ‘Red Book’ sanctioned the Red Guards to threaten death upon anyone who might pose a threat to Mao’s government (MLD, pg. 68). What is more, Mao even sanctioned for the burning of all Western products and ‘filth’ including books, artwork, waltz and movies (MLD, pg.

I do not know exactly what Li believes outside the scope of this quote but what I believe is that ‘freedom’ is unattainable in this world. Governments (or rather the elite group who rule the world) are too fixated on controlling their people and having nigh-omniscience and nigh-omnipresence that pure freedom is unattainable. Sure, we get false freedom where we feel free but that freedom is a cosy house with no windows and only one door. When you step out of that door, freedom and every good thing is seen to be an oasis in a vast desert, a facade. That is my worldview and the way I view the