Today the world wears different types of views. I will be discussing the five major world views and will also tell you what view we should believe on and why. The five major world views are: Naturalism, Pantheism, Theism, Polytheism and Spiritualism, and Postmodernism.


1. Naturalism-Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism, and Evolution or Darwinism beliefs are all connected this main worldview which is Naturalism.

Naturalism is a world view that believes that there is no such thing as spirits, souls, gods, and other spiritual things. They believe that everything can be explained through natural law.

2. Pantheism-Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, New Age, and Consciousness beliefs all point to the world view of Pantheism.

Pantheism is a world view that believes that the universe and everything in it is part of god. They do not believe that god is personal, but he is unknowable.

3. Theism-Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are branches of Theism.

Theism is a world view in which people believe that one personal god exists. Theism believes that God created the world and the world has a beginning and an end.

4. Polytheism and Spiritualism- different religions around the world are a branch of this worldview. one example is Shinto.

Polytheism and Spiritualism believes that there are spirits in everything and that there are many spirits, gods, and demons that are behind the natural calamities and disasters.

5. Postmodernism- what a lot of the generation today believe on. I personally believe that materialism is a branch of postmodernism.

Postmodernism believes that god has nothing to do with their lives. They believe that they create reality by just living out each day of their lives. So for short, postmodernism knows that there could be a god but they don't care because they just look at what can be seen now,such as money, fame and power. 

So what now? I believe that I have already explained what to believe on on the last chapter. Yes, I believe in the worldview of theism but, take out the word "WORLD" in the word "WORLDVIEW" and change it into the word "GOD"S". We then get the word "GOD"S VIEW", which is the view that I strongly want others to believe on. God's view is practicing and living your life in His plan. Know Him to know what God is thinking and planning and run according to His story.

There are many things that we don't understand and questions that we want to ask but, we can only believe in God and do what He wants us to do. He gave us a letter in which we can learn what we should know so let us just believe in His Word, the Bible. 

Try as you might to seek for the answer in every question but, the only answer you will always get at the very end is to believe. I choose to believe in God, our LORD. You may then ask again why, but my answers will depend on what type of person you are, so here are my answers for different types of people:

>For people who are looking for answers through facts and academics- 'Go back to the Bible and search for the answers there. If you will then say 'How can I just believe on what the Bible says/?' then, compare the Bible with older books in which you believe on. Take Iliad for example....(read this article to see explanation: http://www.gospeloutreach.net/bible.html)

>For people who are emotionally hurt- "Then again you can be comforted through the Word of God which is the Bible. You can find wisdom and comfort in all types of problems."

> For people who feel empty and live their life just as they see it and live their life by following the saying, "Today we feast and tomorrow we die."- Fill in that empty and strange feeling that you feel by allowing the words of God to reach you and fill you."

So I guess my answer all in all will be is to read the Bible and find what you are seeking in it.

Wake up, stop, and think why are you believing on what you are believing? Am I only doing this because others are doing this? Check your heart and motive why you are doing what you are doing. The enemy is always at work to ruin the path to God, but you can choose to stop it by ignoring the disguise behind those voices, urge, and temptation you feel.

Choose to believe in God's view.

Note: Eye world photo is from Google.
 
Another thing that I know, Asians love is celebrating holidays. Asians love and practice traditional holidays, colorful festivals, holiday family-gatherings or reunions up until now. Asians have the close-knit family relationships and even to friends and would be really shocked to see the westerners that are living alone.

Here are some of the Asian festivals that I would like to highlight on:
1. Sinulog Festival-The first Asian festival I would like to feature is a popular festival in my country, Philippines. It is celebrated in most of the Visayan region. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of January and lasts for nine days. The last day is the most awaited parade, the Sinulog Grand Parade.

(For more info please click the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinulog_festival
---Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia)
2. Holi Festival- This festival is celebrated in India every Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmashi (Full Moon) from between February and March. The Holi Festival is observed by Hindus mostly in India and Nepal. The festival is in honor to a story in the old Hindu religion. 

The story was about the king of demons, Hiranyakashipu, who wanted everyone to worship him and no one else; his own son, Phrahlada a devotee to Vishnu, continued to pray to Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his own son, but in vain. After many failed attempts, he ordered Phrahlda to sit in a pyre on the lap of Hiranyakashipu's sister, Holika. Both Hiranyakashipu and Holika are said to have a boon that keeps them from dying so everyone knew that Holika will not be burned. to everyone's surprise, Holika was the one who burned in the pyre and Phrahlda was safe.

The meaning of the colorful powder ,that the people who celebrate the festival attach to themselves, is the symbol happiness and life which Phrahlda gained after many trials.
3 .Chinese New Year- This Asian holiday is observed not only in Asia, but internationally also for some countries and families. The origin of the Chinese New Year is said to be caused by a monster named Nian who attacks and eats people every new year. The people were terrified and began leaving food in front of their houses so that Nian wouldn't eat the people. Nian did this every year and ate the food that the people give him. Nian didn't bother to eat the villagers anymore until one day, they saw Nian scared of a boy who was wearing red. They knew then that Nian was afraid of the color red and began wearing red clothes every new year, making and decorating their houses with red lanterns. they also started to fire fireworcks so that Nian and other bad spirits will be scared away. And truly, their plan was a success; Nian didn't dare bother the people any more for he was to scared to approach the village. Nian was anyway killed also by a taoist monk whose name was Hongjun Laozu.

There are a lot more festivals that Asia celebrates that I want to share, but they are indeed to many. It's interesting though that Asian countries celebrates festivals for their gods, achievements, heroes, and more.

One thing that took my interest is the Holi festival that is celebrated by the Hindus. Seems to me that the idea of the story is somehow similar to Daniel in the Lion's Den and Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace of the Bible. This story can be found in:
Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace-Daniel chapter 3

Daniel in the Lion's Den- Daniel chapter 6


Which you can read here online in:  
https://www.bible.com/


(Note: All pictures used in this article are from Google)
 
Asian trait whether ancient or modern, the distinct character and traits of the Asians still remains until today. What are those distinct Asian traits?
  1. Spirituality- Have you noticed that in Asia, almost all of the religions are there? Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, etc... Asians are very spiritual and value spirituality more than any other thing. As I learned in my Asian History, Asians believe that "what is visible is temporal and what is invisible is eternal ". 
  2. Fatalism- Asians are are also known to be superstitious and believe that something either bad or good will happen if they do this and that.
  3. Stoicism- Asians accept death, misfortunes, and disasters in a more calm way than Westerners.
  4. Hospitality- Asians are well known for being hospitable even to strangers. Asians will make a way to celebrate birthdays and holidays even if they do not have the time and resources.
  5. Extended Family Relationships- For Asians, we treat our friends and people ,outside blood relations, who are close to us as our second family. Best friends treat each other as sisters or brothers. When you are in any Asian country, don't be surprised when an Asian approaches you and addresses you Yímā or Shūshu (Chinese for uncle and aunt); Onee-san or Onii-san (Japanese for older sister and brother); Tita or Tito, Ate or Kuya (Filipino/Tagalog for aunt and uncle, older sister and brother); Eonnie and Oppa (Korean for older sister and brother)---etc... 
  6. Sense of Continuity- The belief that "What comes around, goes around', is practiced by Asians through the Buddhist belief of reincarnation and karma
  7. Indirect Reasoning- Lastly, While the Westerners say what they feel and think directly, Asians are the opposite. One example is Jose Rizal of the Philippines; He could have joined the war against the Spanish by enrolling himself to fight, but he chose to write a book and write there how they were being treated by the Spanish.

I am not against Westerners, but there are positive and negative points on both sides. Well no one is perfect anyway....

 
Since I tackled Asian History for this whole school year, I will be talking about Asian ancient and modern culture and tradition. I just want to clarify this since you might be wondering all of a sudden why am i only talking about Asian stuff. So that's all and enjoy the chapter!