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Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives
Why do we buy what we buy, vote the way we vote, eat what we eat and say what we say? Why do we have the friends we have, and work and play as we do? It's our choice? Yes, but there are forces, often unseen, that shape every decision we make and every action we take. These hidden, life-shaping values and ideas are not promoted through organized religions or rival philosophies but fostered by cultural habits, lifestyles and the institutional structures of society. Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford shine a spotlight on the profound challenges to Christianity and faithful Christian living that come from worldviews that comprise the cultural soup we swim in. The authors show how to detect the individualism, consumerism, nationalism, moral relativism, scientific naturalism, New Age thinking, postmodern tribalism and salvation as therapy that fly under our radar. Building on the work of worldview thinkers like James Sire, this book helps those committed to the gospel story recognize those rival cultural stories that compete for our hearts and minds.
218 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 11, 2011
Hidden Worldviews is not your average book addressing worldviews. There are no chapters on nihilism, existentialism, or Eastern monism (though a nod is made to The Universe Next Door, and James Sire even writes a blurb for the back of the book, calling Hidden Worldviews "an excellent compliment" to his own standard work).
Unlike most other writers addressing worldviews, authors Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford deal with what they call "lived worldviews". These lived worldviews include such ideas as individualism, consumerism, nationalism, moral relativism and salvation by therapy. They are so called because "we are more likely to absorb them through cultural contact than adopt them through a rational evaluation of competing theories. These lived worldviews are popular philosophies of life that have few intellectual proponents but vast numbers of practitioners".
Because of the subtle nature of these ideas, Wilkens and Sanford suggest that there is a greater risk of such ideas being smuggled into and blended with Christianity almost unknowingly. Indeed, to the extent that the traditional worldviews pose a challenge externally to Christianity, these worldviews seem to be a challenge within Christianity as well as without.
Every chapter deals with a specific lived worldview and details both the truth or good as well as potential problems of each worldview before drawing a conclusion. In this manner, the authors present a very even-handed treatment of each idea without sounding alarmist or too "Chicken Little".
If I have had one frustration that keeps popping up during this first year of setting a significant reading goal for myself, it has been that, as the writer of Ecclesiastes would say, "there is nothing new under the sun". However, this book was an exception, a very refreshing read and quite unique in it's approach and subject matter. Overall, it was a very readable and enjoyable book, and one of my top ten for the year!
Unlike most other writers addressing worldviews, authors Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford deal with what they call "lived worldviews". These lived worldviews include such ideas as individualism, consumerism, nationalism, moral relativism and salvation by therapy. They are so called because "we are more likely to absorb them through cultural contact than adopt them through a rational evaluation of competing theories. These lived worldviews are popular philosophies of life that have few intellectual proponents but vast numbers of practitioners".
Because of the subtle nature of these ideas, Wilkens and Sanford suggest that there is a greater risk of such ideas being smuggled into and blended with Christianity almost unknowingly. Indeed, to the extent that the traditional worldviews pose a challenge externally to Christianity, these worldviews seem to be a challenge within Christianity as well as without.
Every chapter deals with a specific lived worldview and details both the truth or good as well as potential problems of each worldview before drawing a conclusion. In this manner, the authors present a very even-handed treatment of each idea without sounding alarmist or too "Chicken Little".
If I have had one frustration that keeps popping up during this first year of setting a significant reading goal for myself, it has been that, as the writer of Ecclesiastes would say, "there is nothing new under the sun". However, this book was an exception, a very refreshing read and quite unique in it's approach and subject matter. Overall, it was a very readable and enjoyable book, and one of my top ten for the year!
June 24, 2021
Wow! This is a great book that really impacted me and taught me about the world we are living in today. Just looking at some of the chapter titles are convicting.
1. Individualism: I am the center of the universe
2. Consumerism: I am what I own
3. Nationalism: My nation, under God
4. Moral Relativism: The Absolute truth about relativism and something like relativism
5. Scientific Naturalism: Only matter matters
6. The New Age: Are we gods or are we God’s?
7. Postmodern Tribalism: My tribe/my worldview
8. Salvation by Therapy: Not as good as it gets
The authors point out the hidden world-views permeating our culture and influencing us today. I look around and am concerned about our culture wars and division, but this book explained the reasons behind so much of it.
It also helped me recognize where I am being caught up in world-views that I would have not realized because of their subtlety.
I highly recommend this book and to read it with humility and compassion. We all are shaped by the prevailing thought of our time and it is good to see how these world views presented are forming our culture, and us individually.
1. Individualism: I am the center of the universe
2. Consumerism: I am what I own
3. Nationalism: My nation, under God
4. Moral Relativism: The Absolute truth about relativism and something like relativism
5. Scientific Naturalism: Only matter matters
6. The New Age: Are we gods or are we God’s?
7. Postmodern Tribalism: My tribe/my worldview
8. Salvation by Therapy: Not as good as it gets
The authors point out the hidden world-views permeating our culture and influencing us today. I look around and am concerned about our culture wars and division, but this book explained the reasons behind so much of it.
It also helped me recognize where I am being caught up in world-views that I would have not realized because of their subtlety.
I highly recommend this book and to read it with humility and compassion. We all are shaped by the prevailing thought of our time and it is good to see how these world views presented are forming our culture, and us individually.
February 1, 2021
This book had a lot of good ideas, however, as a text for a class, I was just not into it and found it hard to care too much. Also, there are almost no footnotes, references, or bibliography for this book which was a huge turn-off seeing as it's a book about various religions and worldviews written by two Christian men.
September 17, 2024
I had to read this for class. Not my favorite. The author kinda seemed like a self righteous prick (no offense). Specifically in ch8. When he’s essentially complaining that as a straight white Christian man from America he’s excluded from other peoples cultural groups and that made him sad and feel left out. Because of this I found it hard to read his book and find him credible because he wasn’t acknowledging why certain cultural “tribes� exist and it’s mainly because of his demographic excluding these people from everyday life and activities for centuries. People of color, LGBTQIA+, women, you name it they’ve been excluded from what straight white Christian males have had the privilege of experiencing for centuries.
January 3, 2018
This was a good worldview book. Rather than take the more abstract approach (any worldview assessment book is going to be a bit abstract by necessity), this book strove to look at the way people actually live their lives. So you get postmodern tribalism, consumerism, etc. assessment. I also liked the narrative approach to the Christian worldview that the authors advocated.
April 20, 2024
I was debating between giving this book a 3 or a 4 star. I think the book does a decent job of introducing “hidden worldviews�, worldviews that we might not know by name, but are very prevalent in our culture. Things like individualism, consumerism, naturalism, etc. There are better books out there on the subject, though I still appreciated this one. It might be nice to do a study through wash of the worldviews and offer biblical critiques of them. The reason I went with a 4 star was that I found the critiques given in the book weren’t very thorough and weren’t as Biblical as I would have liked. It also seemed anti-reformed in its presentation of the Christian worldview.
August 23, 2024
I read this for my Christianity and culture class and found it to lack depth. I think the bias of the authors was clear throughout the book and therefore it was difficult for me to read without having that as a distraction. I wish they would have considered a more nuanced approach to worldviews because I fundamentally disagree with the suggestion that someone can only have one worldview. I think people are far more complex
April 8, 2025
Had good ideas but nothing really “sunk in�
May 14, 2012
This book tackles a ton of topics often left unmentioned or largely ignored in typical Christian worldview analyses. Some of these lesser trod paths include individualism, consumerism, nationalism, and salvation by therapy. The breadth is enormously helpful and worth the price of admission. What's annoying is when Wilkens and Sanford note "Positive Elements of X" (e.g. moral relativism) and then only counter said false ideology with "Potential Problems with X". It's as if they don't believe the Christian faith is true and therefore true as well as good and beautiful. Let me tell you some about some "Potential Problems with Cowardice". Relativism can't carry love, justice or truth three feet. That's not a potential flaw. If it weren't for the lame handwringing, I'd have given the book five stars.
November 13, 2020
Hidden Worldviews is a book that covers several different worldviews from a Christian perspective. It breaks each worldview down and examines it, stating what is good about it and trying to show where the worldviews fall short. I know so much more about individualism, consumerism, post modernism, new age thought and psychology because of this book. Something I found really cool is that, although the book is written from a Christian perspective, it breaks down Christianity and explains it as a worldview as well. It actually answered so many questions that I had about my own faith, regarding the fall, and humanity's redemption, and it helped me understand that living with a Christian worldview is about having faith. At the end of the day, I can't give concrete evidence that Christianity is the correct worldview. I can only reason that it is the worldview that makes the most sense.
November 30, 2010
read for a class. didn't enjoy at all. too repetitive and complicated.
April 27, 2023
This was a stressful and difficult read. I came away with the sentiment that Christianity impairs the empathetic capabilities of its adherents. This guy is clearly trying to understand ideals other than his own, but he generally mangles them, understating the virtues of people he disagrees with in injurious ways. He falls back on odious traditions wrought from a history of violence...
Page 205, "Without such a God, it is difficult to understand why anyone would expect the world to improve." This is a very brief quotation that exemplifies the problem. He's obviously an idealistic person, but he has only a shallow, biased understanding the virtues that arise in non-Christian thinking.
He asserts in chapter 9 that a morally bankrupt person might be considered psychologically healthy. I consider this an example of the impaired empathy with which he approaches non-Christian paradigms. Psychologists are rarely so bereft of ideals that they would certify a villain as truly healthy in mind. This links to some of the stuff he criticizes in naturalism, too. He comes off as lacking an acquaintance with utilitarianism. Analysis can produce virtue by evaluating end products, because in fact virtuous ends are not amply supported by unvirtuous means.
The most mangled ideology under his gentle touch was individualism. He proposes "expressive individualism" as a pure movement of rebellion, ignoring that independent creators also create independent communities. As I wrote repeatedly in my own notes, "People expressing their own individual nature also express their own individual need for others." Furthermore, he gives no indication of recognizing that expressive individualists pursue ideals. He accuses people of selfishness when what has happened is that he has not recognized idealism operating beyond his own traditions.
Page 205, "Without such a God, it is difficult to understand why anyone would expect the world to improve." This is a very brief quotation that exemplifies the problem. He's obviously an idealistic person, but he has only a shallow, biased understanding the virtues that arise in non-Christian thinking.
He asserts in chapter 9 that a morally bankrupt person might be considered psychologically healthy. I consider this an example of the impaired empathy with which he approaches non-Christian paradigms. Psychologists are rarely so bereft of ideals that they would certify a villain as truly healthy in mind. This links to some of the stuff he criticizes in naturalism, too. He comes off as lacking an acquaintance with utilitarianism. Analysis can produce virtue by evaluating end products, because in fact virtuous ends are not amply supported by unvirtuous means.
The most mangled ideology under his gentle touch was individualism. He proposes "expressive individualism" as a pure movement of rebellion, ignoring that independent creators also create independent communities. As I wrote repeatedly in my own notes, "People expressing their own individual nature also express their own individual need for others." Furthermore, he gives no indication of recognizing that expressive individualists pursue ideals. He accuses people of selfishness when what has happened is that he has not recognized idealism operating beyond his own traditions.
June 5, 2023
“Faith in Jesus' redemptive work should touch and transform every aspect of life. God's story should rewrite our individual stories in such a way that our identities, convictions, values and actions are in sync with God's will.� (pg. 197)
A unique worldview book discussing not the common topics of Marxism, Islam, or Humanism. Yet discusses very common, but rarely discussed worldviews like Individualism, Postmodern Tribalism, and “Salvation by Therapy�. A very interesting book to say the least.
A unique worldview book discussing not the common topics of Marxism, Islam, or Humanism. Yet discusses very common, but rarely discussed worldviews like Individualism, Postmodern Tribalism, and “Salvation by Therapy�. A very interesting book to say the least.
September 30, 2021
A very good rundown of eight worldview paradigms which are all around us in American culture, considered from a Christian standpoint ("considered" meaning that good AND bad points are discussed). My biggest disagreements are probably with their section on nationalism, as I see a strong trend in American nationalism specifically which advocates for loyalty to principle rather than a specific geography or ethnicity... but a full discussion of that might end up as a blog post someday.
September 11, 2018
Very helpful, particularly for preachers who are looking to do cultural or apologetic side bars in their sermons. I thought Wilkens was fair in his appraisal of different worldviews - acknowledging some of the common grace benefits for society and even believers but firmly exposing them as reductionistic and empty.
December 14, 2018
This book is insightful and beneficial for many reasons but two in particular. First it deals with worldviews that are practical and common not merely abstract. Second, Wilkens does a great job exploring not just the negatives of a worldview but also the strengths which helps create ways of creating common ground with people.
September 25, 2017
This book does a good job of critiquing major world views or people and identifying positive and negative in these examples. Good critical thinking process to determine what your individual view is and how do you get there.
April 23, 2018
If you want to understand how to relate with and minister to the Western world, specifically the American culture, this book if for you. It studies the core postmodern worldviews that are evident in everyday life just outside of your doorstep, and, most likely, inside of your own home.
December 29, 2023
Had to read this for an honors class and found it mostly boring but at the same slightly interesting. The interesting thing about it would be how the different worldviews make people think, and just how many things we don’t realize are actually worldviews.
July 18, 2017
Great book exposing worldviews people don't even realize they have.
June 7, 2018
This book was a book I had to read for a college course. Despite that, the book was thought provoking and enjoyable.
June 22, 2019
I love how they point out what's good/true about each worldview.
October 27, 2020
A good start to begin to understand the world around you.
August 4, 2021
I read this textbook for a theology course. Definitely an intellectual slog at times but worth the endeavor.
September 20, 2022
Good but complicated
July 15, 2017
excellent book on some of the various prevalent worldviews in the west and how they shape our faith undetected. highly recommended
March 15, 2013
The topic of worldviews addressed in books, journal articles, and university lectures tends to be examined from a predominantly scholastic perspective, which is to say the ideas, ideals, and philosophies behind the dominant worldviews which shape our culture are typically the focus of these studies. Certainly the ideologies and philosophies underlying worldviews are important subjects for examination, after all, what apologetics student has not been warned that ideas have consequences? However, what is often lacking in these worldview lessons is an assessment of these worldviews on the “street level.� How does the concept of worldview play out in the life one’s neighbor, coworker, brother or sister, or local school board president? Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford, the authors of Hidden Worldviews, seek to address the concept of worldviews on the “street level,� and more importantly they endeavor to, “isolate areas where hidden worldviews, alien to Christianity, have crept into our thoughts and lifestyles.�
The contents covered in this work include such worldviews as “Individualism,� “Consumerism,� “Nationalism,� “Scientific Naturalism,� and “Postmodern Tribalism,� among others. In this reviewer’s estimation Wilkens and Sanford have done an excellent job defining and describing eight worldviews (or cultural stories as they identify them) which not only permeate our culture, but have also subtly crept into the worldview of many professing Christians. Readers of this work will find it very easy to identify with the defining elements of each of these worldviews.
Some of the treatments of these worldviews are better than others. For example, the description of “Individualism� will resonate with most if not all readers (and it is a problem that is epidemic in the church), however, after reading the authors� portrayal of “Nationalism,� this reviewer was struck with the impression that they must only think Americans suffer from this malady. Still, even though some descriptions were better than others they are all very helpful.
In addition to describing these eight cultural stories the authors also identify what they consider to be the good and bad elements of each of these worldviews. There isn’t much to disagree with in the bad elements identified for each worldview. This reviewer did disagree at times with elements considered by the authors to be good. For instance, in their critique of “Scientific Naturalism� they assert that, “Scientific naturalism is correct in its quest for unity and its desire to solve earthly problems.� That assertion is a generously romanticized view of “Scientific Naturalism.� Perhaps more than a disagreement about some of the conclusions reached about the worldviews presented in this book this reviewer takes issue with the relatively minor role Scripture plays in evaluating these worldviews. In this book pragmatism and rationalism seem to be more important than Scripture in the evaluation process.
This book is useful for its descriptions of these eight worldviews, but readers will want to use care when reading the authors� assessments of these worldviews. Scripture is the best tool for measuring the merits of the worldviews it is not a secondary support. This work is recommended, but with some reservations.
The contents covered in this work include such worldviews as “Individualism,� “Consumerism,� “Nationalism,� “Scientific Naturalism,� and “Postmodern Tribalism,� among others. In this reviewer’s estimation Wilkens and Sanford have done an excellent job defining and describing eight worldviews (or cultural stories as they identify them) which not only permeate our culture, but have also subtly crept into the worldview of many professing Christians. Readers of this work will find it very easy to identify with the defining elements of each of these worldviews.
Some of the treatments of these worldviews are better than others. For example, the description of “Individualism� will resonate with most if not all readers (and it is a problem that is epidemic in the church), however, after reading the authors� portrayal of “Nationalism,� this reviewer was struck with the impression that they must only think Americans suffer from this malady. Still, even though some descriptions were better than others they are all very helpful.
In addition to describing these eight cultural stories the authors also identify what they consider to be the good and bad elements of each of these worldviews. There isn’t much to disagree with in the bad elements identified for each worldview. This reviewer did disagree at times with elements considered by the authors to be good. For instance, in their critique of “Scientific Naturalism� they assert that, “Scientific naturalism is correct in its quest for unity and its desire to solve earthly problems.� That assertion is a generously romanticized view of “Scientific Naturalism.� Perhaps more than a disagreement about some of the conclusions reached about the worldviews presented in this book this reviewer takes issue with the relatively minor role Scripture plays in evaluating these worldviews. In this book pragmatism and rationalism seem to be more important than Scripture in the evaluation process.
This book is useful for its descriptions of these eight worldviews, but readers will want to use care when reading the authors� assessments of these worldviews. Scripture is the best tool for measuring the merits of the worldviews it is not a secondary support. This work is recommended, but with some reservations.
August 11, 2023
The first chapter on Individualism is a must read. It is 100% applicable to us today.
March 12, 2015
"Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives" will help awaken to countless notions that oppose the Christian worldview that are much larger & ferocious than just the standard topics such as agnosticism and atheism.
The book is written practically, with the understanding that many people incorporate aspects of each of these worldviews into life without realizing it. As such, the authors want to help us understand that our worldviews are not something that we choose, like choosing bacon instead of ham for breakfast. Instead, we aquire a worldview in a much more organic way as we are influenced by the stories & people all around us all the time. That is what makes this book different from most “worldview� books.
One of their basic premises is that even strong Christians may not have a strong Christian worldview, but may incorporate many other elements throughout life. So then we must reject those ways of thinking that are not Christian, & adopt a truly Christian worldview.
One of my favorite parts of this book is that each chapter gives not only a precise definition of each worldview, but also the positive elements of each worldview. This is often missing in most works & I found it very helpful in thinking through each view as well as how I might approach those who hold to that view. Of course the drastic problem with each worldview is given as well. These things help a great deal in making hard concepts easier to understand and makes them more relevant to our day to day living.
The book is written practically, with the understanding that many people incorporate aspects of each of these worldviews into life without realizing it. As such, the authors want to help us understand that our worldviews are not something that we choose, like choosing bacon instead of ham for breakfast. Instead, we aquire a worldview in a much more organic way as we are influenced by the stories & people all around us all the time. That is what makes this book different from most “worldview� books.
One of their basic premises is that even strong Christians may not have a strong Christian worldview, but may incorporate many other elements throughout life. So then we must reject those ways of thinking that are not Christian, & adopt a truly Christian worldview.
One of my favorite parts of this book is that each chapter gives not only a precise definition of each worldview, but also the positive elements of each worldview. This is often missing in most works & I found it very helpful in thinking through each view as well as how I might approach those who hold to that view. Of course the drastic problem with each worldview is given as well. These things help a great deal in making hard concepts easier to understand and makes them more relevant to our day to day living.
August 3, 2014
A good overview of some popular ways of thinking as well as why it is that those ways aren’t obviously true. But these popular sets of ideas such as naturalism, psychologism, consumerism and individualism aren’t really complete world views. Naturalism is solely a metaphysical view, psychologism is a view of anthropology as is individualism while consumerism involves both anthropological and ethical points of view. Moreover, additional philosophies were not dealt with at all in this book such as idealism and buddhism. Finally what is considered uniquely Christian, such as the belief in a beginning of everything, is present in other world religions as well. Still, this book makes a good amount of solid points which will definitely get people thinking about their philosophical presuppositions in approaching the world around them.
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