Parshall Partners

A Deadly Elixir

         If you look up the word “syncretism” in the dictionary, you will find this definition: the combination of different forms of belief or practice.  Think about that, then ask yourself, “Can syncretism have a place within a Christian worldview”?

         The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University has been doing some significant research on worldviews as part of their American Worldview Inventory.  They have observed six prominent competing worldviews – Secular Humanism, Postmodernism, Therapeutic Deism, Nihilism, Marxism (including Critical Theory) and Eastern Mysticism.

         Veteran researcher, Dr. George Barna, found that nearly 9 out of 10 American adults hold to a mixture of worldviews, instead of adhering to one single worldview.  Looking at this another way, just 6% of U.S. adults have a biblical worldview.

         Interestingly, a biblical worldview, while rare, is the most common.  Secular Humanism was embraced by 2% of adults, postmodernism and nihilism by 1% and Marxism (including critical theory) and Eastern mysticism was held by less than one-half of one percent of those surveyed.  Which received the greatest number:  NONE OF THE ABOVE, where 88% of U.S. adults have an “impure, unrecognizable world that is a blending of ideas from multiple perspectives – syncretism.

         "Syncretism is a cut-and-paste approach to making sense of life," says Barna.  "Rather than developing an internally consistent and philosophically coherent perspective, Americans embrace points of view or actions that feel comfortable or most convenient. Those beliefs and behaviors are often inconsistent, or even contradictory, but few Americans seemed troubled by that."

         Barna also noted that in his more than 25 years of studying worldview in America he has discovered that people generally adopt worldview beliefs and behaviors that they encounter in arts and entertainment vehicles, in news report, in political statements made by public leaders, and through conversations and experiences with people they trust.

         Think about that – it’s why more Americans get their values – their worldview – from the cineplex on Saturday night than from the pulpit on Sunday morning.  It’s why censorship of the news is so incredible dangerous and it’s why Big Tech must never be allowed to ‘manage the message’.

         Is there a remedy?  Dr. Barna believes more and more Christians are waking up to the necessity of instilling a solid, biblical worldview, especially among our youngest people.  He has said that we need to develop an “integrated body of beliefs and behaviors that enable someone to think like Jesus so they can then live like Jesus.”

         “Our studies show that Americans are neither deep nor sophisticated thinkers,” the veteran researcher noted. “We've become selfish and emotion-driven, leaving logic behind. To promote a way of life that pushes us to think more clearly, consistently, and purposefully will take time and considerable effort, and will be uncomfortable. Most people seem more interested in living a life of comfort and convenience. The progress will be slow, but people who are willing to fight for a more reasonable way of thinking and acting can make a difference.”

         The biblical worldview of salvation through Christ only will never change and it’s a truth that can never be mixed with a lie.  Syncretism is a deadly elixir with eternal consequences.

         Those are my thoughts.  I’m Janet Parshall.