Epistemological Crisis: The Result Of A Worldview Conflict
When two worldviews collide, a person will try to defend their worldview through powerful embedded themes that are a part of their personal narrative. If the opposing worldview cannot be rationalized away,
then the conflict will force the individual to examine their epistemological knowledge system that lies beneath their worldview. Keep in mind that their worldview is formed
by their epistemological knowledge system, therefore, when the worldview is
questioned, the next logical step is to question the knowledge system and the
source of its knowledge that lies beneath. The worldview conflict will bleed back into the realm of
epistemology where knowledge and its source will be questioned. Most likely, what one will find behind
opposing worldviews are opposing epistemological systems and opposing sources
of knowledge. The clash between the two
creates what is called an epistemological crisis. John Wright shares with us that an
epistemological crisis occurs when,
“…a
person’s narrative account is no longer an adequate account for the data at
hand… The collapse of a previously held
narrative brings with it a new and often awkward self-consciousness and
vulnerability… An epistemological crisis
grants a self-knowledge that otherwise would escape our own understanding of
ourself. As in tragedy, we stand exposed
in front of new data. The new data
interrogates us…”[1]
From personal experience I
can attest that worldview conflicts are uncomfortable, however, an epistemological
crisis can be paralyzing. Wright states,
“The pain of an epistemological crisis,
while ultimately helpful, initially sends shock waves through individuals and
congregations.”[2]
Essentially what is at stake in an epistemological crisis
is the assessment and comparison of two or more different and competing sources
of knowledge. These different sources of
knowledge yield different assumptions that yield different worldviews that will
yield different behavioral patterns and feelings. Thus, you can see the profound impact and
reaching breadth of this crisis.
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