Lesson 4: Understanding Worldviews

Introduction to Worldviews

Imagine putting on a pair of sunglasses that change the way everything around you looks—what was once bright and clear might now seem darker or more colorful. These sunglasses represent your worldview. Just as different lenses can affect how you see the world, your worldview influences how you interpret and make sense of everything around you.

A worldview is the lens through which people view the world. It is the set of beliefs and assumptions that guide how we understand reality. Our worldview shapes our values, decisions, and actions. For instance, the way you answer big questions like "What is the purpose of life?" or "What is right and wrong?" is determined by your worldview.

Worldviews are not just personal; entire societies develop shared worldviews. These collective worldviews are formed over time and influence everything from how societies are governed to how they relate to other cultures and the environment.

It’s important to remember that worldviews aren’t static—they can change over time. Just like swapping out a pair of old sunglasses for new ones, societies and individuals sometimes adjust their worldviews as they encounter new experiences, technologies, and ideas.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand what a worldview is and how various factors—like culture, religion, and time—shape the way we all see and interact with the world.

Factors That Shape Worldviews

1. Time and Place

Have you ever noticed how the way we think about things changes depending on when and where we live? Time and place are like the frame that surrounds a picture, influencing how we understand the image. Different periods of history and different environments shape the worldview of people living in those times and places.

For example, let’s think about ancient Mesopotamia. Imagine living in a world where your survival depended on the flooding of two great rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. The people of Mesopotamia believed that the gods controlled these floods, and their worldview revolved around appeasing these gods to ensure the survival of their crops. The unpredictable nature of the environment shaped their religious beliefs and led to the development of a centralized government to control resources.

Now, imagine you’re an Indigenous person in Saskatchewan, living on the open plains. Your worldview would be deeply connected to the land around you. Instead of trying to control nature, as in Mesopotamia, you would see yourself as part of a larger system of living things. The cycles of the seasons and the movement of animals would guide your actions, and you would have a deep respect for maintaining balance in the natural world.

So, just like the physical environment influences what you wear or how you get around, it also shapes your beliefs and the way you see the world.

2. Culture and Language

Culture is like the software that runs on a computer—it’s not something you can touch, but it’s what shapes how the system operates. Just like a computer works differently depending on the software installed, people’s worldviews change depending on their cultural background.

Culture is made up of the customs, traditions, values, and social norms that define a group of people. It’s transmitted through language, stories, art, and social practices. Language, in particular, is crucial because it’s the primary way we communicate and share ideas. It’s often said that the limits of our language are the limits of our world. For example, in some Indigenous languages, there may be no word for “ownership” of land because their worldview is based on sharing resources, not claiming them.

Let’s look at a specific example. In Indigenous cultures of Saskatchewan, oral storytelling was central to preserving and transmitting their worldview. Elders shared stories that taught lessons about living in harmony with nature, respecting others, and maintaining balance in the world. These stories didn’t just entertain—they passed down the beliefs that were core to the community’s worldview. The language in which these stories were told carried meanings that often don’t translate easily into English, showing just how closely worldview is tied to culture and language.

By contrast, European settlers brought a different worldview with them. Their culture valued land ownership, individual success, and control over nature. This worldview was reflected in their language, with terms like "property" and "settlement" becoming key to how they saw the land they encountered in Canada.

Think of culture as the operating system of society. It affects everything, from the way people greet each other to how they understand big ideas like freedom, responsibility, and success. Language is the code that helps transmit this system from one generation to the next.

3. Religion and Spirituality

Religion is like a compass—it helps people find direction in life, offering answers to big questions like "Why are we here?" and "What happens after we die?" Every society has religious or spiritual beliefs that shape its worldview, whether it’s through formalized institutions like churches or through everyday practices and rituals.

In medieval Europe, for example, Christianity was the guiding force behind most people’s worldview. The Church played a central role in every aspect of life, from laws and education to daily behavior. People believed that everything was controlled by God, and this belief influenced how they viewed the world. They saw their social hierarchy, with kings and nobles at the top, as part of God’s plan, and they accepted their place in society as divinely ordained.

On the other hand, Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan had spiritual beliefs that were closely tied to the land and nature. They believed that all living things were connected and that humans had a responsibility to care for the environment. Their spiritual practices, such as the use of the Medicine Wheel, reflected a worldview that emphasized balance, harmony, and respect for all life.

Religion and spirituality provide the foundation for a society’s morals and values. Whether through the belief in an all-powerful God or the recognition of the interconnectedness of life, religion shapes how people see themselves and their role in the world.

4. Gender Identity

Think of gender identity as the script that society hands you when you’re born. This script tells you how you’re expected to behave, what roles you’ll play, and even how you’ll see yourself and your place in the world. But just like in a play, these roles can be rewritten or challenged over time.

In many historical societies, gender roles were strict, and they shaped people’s worldview in fundamental ways. For instance, in medieval Europe, men held most of the power, while women were often confined to domestic roles. This male-dominated worldview shaped everything from laws to family life, and it reinforced the idea that men were naturally suited to lead.

However, not all societies saw gender in the same way. In the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, women held significant political power. Clan Mothers played a central role in choosing leaders and making decisions for the community. This different approach to gender created a more balanced worldview, where women’s voices were not just heard but respected.

Today, our understanding of gender is evolving, and many societies are recognizing that gender is not a rigid binary but a spectrum. This shift is changing how we view roles in society and is leading to a more inclusive worldview.

6. Education

Education is like a set of tools that help you build and understand the world around you. The kind of education you receive shapes your worldview, just as the tools you use shape what you can create.

Only the elite had access to education in medieval Europe, which was under Church control. The Church used education to reinforce a worldview centered around religious beliefs and obedience to authority. The majority of people, especially the poor, had limited access to formal education, and their daily experiences and religious teachings primarily shaped their worldview.

In Indigenous cultures, education was a lifelong process that was deeply connected to the land and the community. Elders played a crucial role in passing down knowledge through stories, ceremonies, and hands-on experience. This form of education emphasized respect for nature, balance in life, and the importance of community. It shaped a worldview that valued harmony with the environment and living in a sustainable way.

Whether it’s formal schooling or learning through life experiences, education plays a major role in shaping how people understand the world.

Examples of Worldviews

Example 1: Indigenous Worldviews in Saskatchewan

For the Cree and Dene peoples of Saskatchewan, their worldview was based on the belief that everything in the natural world was connected. They viewed the land, animals, plants, and even the seasons as part of a larger system of life. This worldview influenced their approach to hunting, farming, and community life. They believed that humans were not superior to nature but part of it, and they practiced sustainability to ensure that future generations could continue to live in harmony with the land.

Spiritual ceremonies, such as the use of the Medicine Wheel, reflected this holistic worldview. The four quadrants of the Medicine Wheel represented different aspects of life—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—each equally important in maintaining balance.

Example 2: Medieval European Worldview

In medieval Europe, the Christian Church had a strong influence on people’s worldview. Life was seen as a journey toward salvation, and the Church taught that obeying God and the Church’s teachings was the most important thing a person could do. This worldview supported a strict social hierarchy, where kings and nobles ruled over peasants, and everyone accepted their place as part of God's plan.

The feudal system, with its clear divisions between the wealthy and the poor, was justified through religious beliefs. The Church preached that God chose those in positions of authority and that disobedience to the social order was sinful.

Reflection on Personal Worldviews

Worldviews are shaped by many different factors, but they also shape us. Think about how your family, culture, religion, and education have influenced the way you see the world. How do these influences affect the decisions you make and the way you interact with others? Understanding your own worldview can help you appreciate the diversity of perspectives in the world and develop empathy for others.

Conclusion

Worldviews are the lenses through which we interpret the world around us. They are shaped by factors like time, place, culture, religion, gender identity, socio-economic status, and education. By understanding these factors, we can better appreciate the diversity of perspectives in the world and become more open to new ideas. Worldviews are powerful, but they can also change—just like putting on a new pair of sunglasses, we can adjust our views as we encounter new experiences and ideas.

References

• Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. (2009). Social Studies 9 Curriculum.

• Office of the Treaty Commissioner. (2008). Teaching Treaties in the Classroom.

• Banks, J. A. (1999). Teaching Strategies for the Social Studies.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. What is a worldview?
   a. A set of political beliefs
   b. A personal opinion about life
   c. A framework for interpreting reality
   d. A legal system in a society
   Correct Answer: c

2. Which factor most directly shapes a person’s worldview?
   a. Their favorite color
   b. The time period they live in
   c. Their daily diet
   d. The type of music they listen to
   Correct Answer: b

3. How does culture influence worldview?
   a. By determining a person's physical abilities
   b. Through shared values, traditions, and beliefs
   c. By controlling the natural environment
   d. By limiting what people can achieve
   Correct Answer: b

4. What role does language play in shaping a worldview?
   a. It prevents people from communicating clearly
   b. It influences how people understand and categorize the world
   c. It is only a tool for writing stories
   d. Language has no effect on worldview
   Correct Answer: b

5. How did religion shape the worldview of medieval Europe?
   a. By encouraging rebellion against authority
   b. By making people believe in a flat Earth
   c. By influencing laws, education, and social order
   d. By promoting equal rights for everyone
   Correct Answer: c

6. In Indigenous worldviews, what is the relationship between humans and nature?
   a. Humans are separate from nature and must control it
   b. Humans are superior to nature
   c. Humans are part of nature and must live in balance with it
   d. Nature is only a resource to be exploited
   Correct Answer: c

7. Which of the following best describes how gender identity can shape worldview?
   a. It has no effect on a person’s worldview
   b. It influences the roles and expectations society assigns to individuals
   c. It determines whether a person is successful in life
   d. It only affects personal relationships, not society
   Correct Answer: b

8. How does socio-economic status affect worldview?
   a. It determines whether a person can vote
   b. It influences a person's perspective on wealth, power, and opportunity
   c. It only affects how a person dresses and eats
   d. It has no impact on a person’s beliefs or values
   Correct Answer: b

9. What was the primary role of education in Indigenous societies in Saskatchewan?
   a. To teach students Latin and religious texts
   b. To reinforce the social hierarchy
   c. To pass down knowledge through oral traditions and practical experience
   d. To prepare students for life in feudal Europe
   Correct Answer: c

10. What does the metaphor of “wearing different sunglasses” refer to in the context of worldview?
    a. Changing fashion trends
    b. The way worldview filters how we see and interpret the world
    c. The importance of protecting your eyes
    d. The ability to see clearly at night
    Correct Answer: b

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