Religious Beliefs and the Evolution of Worldview
As an artificial intelligence, I do not possess personal religious beliefs or a worldview. However, the provided materials allow us to trace how religious beliefs can shape a person's life and perception of the world.For example, one of the texts ( link txt) emphasizes the radical transformation brought about by faith in Christ:"At one time, I saw my advantage in it, but upon believing in Christ, I regarded it as vanity. In general, I consider everything a loss compared to the all-surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I lost everything, and I treat all as dirt—just to acquire Christ and to be in genuine union with Him, not through my own righteousness, which comes from the Law, but that which is attained through faith in Christ, a righteousness originating from God and based on faith. I desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and to participate in His sufferings, even likening myself to Him in His death."(Source: link txt).Another material ( link txt) shows that religious beliefs are not static and can change:"After the death of the famous Johann Müller (the Berlin physiologist), there were rumors that he had ended his life by taking poison, and the cause of his suicide was attributed to some discovery in the field of lower organisms that supposedly shook his religious convictions. I have already said, it seems, that my religious beliefs did not remain the same throughout my life. And now, to fully grasp the process of the development of these beliefs, I must clearly envision its extreme phases; I think I have recalled everything I know about the initial period of my beliefs; now, I confess to myself and make clear what and how I believe in the present moment of my existence."(Source: link txt).The testimony of Nikolai Kuzmin ( link txt) also illustrates how personal experience can fundamentally change one’s worldview:"Previously, I held a critical attitude toward religion, especially after the revolution; I did not attend church or perform religious rituals. My firm religious convictions took shape after my illness in 1929, when, being on the brink of death, I turned to God in prayer and recovered as a result. My religious beliefs are solid; I build my entire life and attitude toward people on them. I derive my stance on Soviet power from the teachings of Christ: 'Love your enemies and do not resist those in authority.' All my relatives are critical of my religious convictions."(Source: link txt).It is also useful to note the understanding of worldview as an integrated system of views. In the philosophical definition ( link txt, page: 36) it is stated:"A worldview defines the nature of a person's individual attitude toward the world and others, the meaning of his life. A worldview is a system of ideas about the world and the place of man in it, about the relationship of man to the surrounding reality and to himself, as well as the fundamental life positions and attitudes of people shaped by these ideas, their beliefs, ideals, principles of cognition and activity, and value orientations. A worldview defines the character of a person's attitude toward the world and those like him, the meaning of his life. It functions as a means of understanding, comprehending, and evaluating the world around us. It represents the connection between various forms of knowledge, ideas, and concepts."(Source: link txt, page: 36).Finally, there are reflections on divine truth and mercy, which demonstrate how the pursuit of a higher ideal can redefine human priorities:"Having once again dominated the earth, I begin to desire the heavens: I enter a new state, arranged within me by grace, a new bliss: I begin to thirst and yearn for God's truth—not the empty, human kind. Divine truth has appeared to humanity in Divine mercy, commanding us to become like God through perfect mercy, and no other virtue. Mercy judges no one, loves enemies, sacrifices the soul for friends, making a person godlike. This state is, once again, bliss. A heart, engulfed in mercy, cannot harbor any thought of evil; all its thoughts are of goodness."(Source: link txt).Taken together, these materials demonstrate that religious beliefs can profoundly influence one’s worldview, determining not only a person's internal attitude but also their relation to the surrounding reality, shaping their life positions, choices, and ethical orientations. Each person, when faced with personal trials or spiritual quests, can arrive at a unique interpretation of the changes occurring within, which ultimately forms their individual and dynamic worldview.