The Compelling Case for

DEVELOPING A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW - ONLINE

Introduction

When I first saw the PEERS Trend Chart (Figure 1 below) presented at an Institute for Creation Science event, I was shocked! Could it be that Christians think like secular humanists and are teaching the next generation to think similarly, even in Christian schools, without even being aware of it? What a perfect strategy to remove Christianity from the culture and Biblical faith from the Church! Whose idea was this, could it actually be traced to specific philosophies, people, and financial foundations in the past and present? I knew that the Church looked and acted worldly, and differed from what I had read in Church history, but could this actually be rationally explained and improved in our day?

Figure 1. PEERS Trend Chart 1 (Used with permission.)

As a concerned parent, homeschool teacher of four boys, and college professor of engineering, I was convinced that my teaching and learning was either supportive of the Christian worldview or, through my ignorance, was at odds with it. I sincerely desired to acknowledge God in all my ways (Proverbs 3:6), but didn't know how to do so in the subjects I learned from secular sources. My church leaders were, like me, educated mostly through secular institutions and had not learned to acknowledge God in common subjects such as: biology, math, science, education, history, economics, politics, arts, geography, language, law, philosophy, psychology, sociology, engineering and others.

The Problem

Without detailing the PEERS Trend Chart here, it is sufficient to say that worldview testing of Christians in public and Christian schools has undisputedly demonstrated that most Christians have a secular humanism world view and the next generation of Christians are being educated into atheistic socialism. Two of the many tragic indicators of the state of the Church today include: 70% of born again children leave the faith when they leave home, and 27% of born again Christian marriages end in divorce. This divorce rate is higher than for non-Christians by 3%. The compelling need for Christian Worldview education was also evidenced through the Barna Research conclusion that only 5% of born again Christians have a fully developed Biblical worldview. What many Christians do not realize is that their is a distinctly Biblical view of every field of study.

The Analysis

Christian leaders agree that (1) the church is at a turning point, (2) the neglect of Biblical thinking clearly explains how the church descended to this point, and (3) the renewing of Christians minds (Romans 12:2) with a Biblical worldview provides great hope for seeing more of the kingdom manifest on earth.

The steps to recovering the Biblical worldview in the church and culture are for each Christian to: (1) Quantitatively evaluate their worldview according to objective Biblical standards. (2) Educate themselves first in the Christian worldview of politics, education, economics, religion, and social issues. (3) Implement the Christian worldview thoroughly in their sphere of influence.

The Solution

As a response to this critical need of our day, the Developing a Biblical Worldview online course was developed to provide: (1) The quantitative personal worldview evaluation through the embedded Nehemiah Institute 70 Question PEERS test. (2) The knowledge for Christians to learn the Biblical worldview of politics, education, economics, religion, and social issues. (3) Motivation to put this knowledge into action within your personal, family, church, and community life.

This Developing a Biblical Worldview online course is the best starting point for engaging the culture with a fully developed Christian worldview within any field of study.

Where to Start

If you have never discovered your worldview, Login and Try the Mini PEERS Worldview test free to determine if you need this course! which is linked to the Main Menu of the Bartlett University Courses page. The Main Menu also contains a Brochure for Students, a Brochure for Educators, a brief article titled What is a Biblical worldview worth? and a link to REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE COURSE. The course syllabus is presented below to help grasp the level of activity. Another link answers the question What are the Benefits of Online Learning?.

Course Syllabus

(Two (2.0) CEU (continuing education units) are available for those completing this course)

COURSE TITLE: Developing a Biblical Worldview

INSTRUCTORS

Mr Dan Smithwick. Mr Smithwick received a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics Education from North Dakota State University in 1972. He subsequently entered into business management with AT&T for 20 years, then worked in upper management positions with several small firms. In addition to his business career, Dan has been active in Christian education work for over 20 years. He served as board member for several Christian schools and taught in a private school one year. Dan also worked for Dr. Pat Robertson's Freedom Council doing grassroots training on Christian worldview principles. In 1986, Dan founded the Nehemiah Institute and authored the first version of the PEERS test. Dan continues to serve as President of the Institute with particular focus on new product development and CFO responsibilities. Dan also serves as a member of the executive committee for the Coalition on Revival (COR). COR is a ministry providing high-level worldview training in all major areas of society.

Dr James Bartlett. Dr. Bartlett received the Ph.D. in Engineering from North Dakota State University in 1992, where he taught and performed research in aircraft and electronics manufacturing engineering for 15 years. His 10 years of industry experience derive from General Motors, Northwest Airlines, and his currently active consulting business. Dr. Bartlett and his wife Lynn have been married for over 15 years and homeschool four boys ages 12, 9, 7, and 4. The Bartlett's have led Christian ministries for college singles and married couples for over seven years, developed and advised college campus Christian ministries, and see the Christian worldview as foundational for Christian education at all levels of learning and for maturity in the Body of Christ. Dr. Bartlett's research and application of a Christian philosophy of education have led to the Family University and Network model, which builds on the success of modern homeschooling. This will become the Bartletts' full time effort begriming in the summer of 2004.

Measurable Course Objective

The objective of the course is to improve the participant's worldview to that of 100% Biblical Theist, based on the Nehemiah Institute's PEERS test. This is accomplished by quantifying the participant's worldview with a pretest, improving the participant's worldview through engagement with the course content and discussions, and then quantifying the participant's worldview using a post test. The participant receives the A grade by scoring 100% on the PEERS test and being able to defend his responses Biblically.

Course Topics

Course Format

The following screen capture shows the top of the "Topic outline" within the course. The "Let's Take a Few Notes" are online journal areas for students to take personal notes as they study the material presented.

The online reading assignments allow you to print out the pages and fill-in the blanks. The answers for the blanks appear on the screen when the mouse is scrolled over the light blue boxes. This feature is used to emphasize the course key points to the participant's understanding.

The writing assignments are not intimidating, but serve as a method to encourage reflection and accountability for reading, learning, and applying the respective section knowledge. Here is a typical writing assignment:

Grading

Note that participants can retake the final PEERS test as many times as needed to score 100%.

Certificate of Completion

As both a thank you for completing the course and to provide you with a reminder of its important content, we will send everyone completing the course a Certificate of Completion, appropriate for mounting and display.

Further Questions

If you don't understand the value of a Christian worldview or have other questions that you would like to discuss, please feel free to use the Social Forum at no expense, or Contact Us.

1. Dan Smithwick, One School-Generation to to, and Then the End (Chicago, IL: Nehemiah Institute <www.nehemiahinstiute.com>, April 17, 2001). Image from most recent data on November 9, 2003.