Puzzle Boxes

In our last post we said we'd explore the following: If materialism can’t account for logic, does the Christian worldview provide a better explanation? And what might this reveal about the relationship between science, logic, and the ultimate nature of reality?  

Before we explore the Christian worldview, we should first clarify what we mean when we talk about worldviews. I like to think of worldviews like puzzle boxes.

Can you imagine opening a box of puzzle pieces only to realize that many of the pieces belong to another puzzle entirely? It would be frustrating and futile to try to solve a puzzle with no coherent picture or pieces that don't fit together! This is a bit like trying to make sense of the world with an inconsistent worldview.

What is a Worldview?

A worldview is the lens through which we interpret reality—the framework that shapes how we understand everything from our relationships and morality to the cosmos itself. It’s like a puzzle box: every belief, assumption, and perspective are pieces that fit together to create a bigger picture of the world.

So what makes up a worldview? It’s built from many different pieces, such as:

Beliefs about God (or the lack of God)

The nature of reality

Human nature and purpose

Morality and ethics

The origin of the universe

These pieces should all work together to form a cohesive picture of the world. But if the pieces don’t fit together properly, or if they’re pulled from different sources with contradictory ideas, the worldview won’t make sense.

For the pieces of a puzzle to fit together, they need to be part of the same puzzle. If the pieces come from different boxes, they won’t match up. Similarly, a worldview must be internally consistent. If the pieces of a worldview don’t fit together, it can’t provide a reliable foundation for making sense of the world.

When you open a puzzle box, you expect to see all the pieces that fit together to form a complete image. A worldview operates in the same way. It should have a coherent set of beliefs that fit together and work together logically. For example, if someone claimed to be an atheist but began their day by praying to God every morning, that worldview would be inconsistent. 

Internal Consistency: Why It Matters

A worldview’s internal consistency is crucial because it shapes how we navigate life. If our beliefs contradict one another, we’re left with confusion and inconsistency. A worldview that’s inconsistent can’t offer meaningful answers to life’s biggest questions, like:

Why does logic work?

Where does morality come from?

What’s the meaning of life?

Every piece of the puzzle fits together and supports the others. If a worldview fails this test, it can’t reliably guide us in understanding reality.

Why It’s Not Enough to Just "Believe"

Reality doesn’t depend upon what you believe. While faith and belief are important, they’re not enough on their own. I can believe in a worldview that is inconsistent and wrong. And, I can disbelieve in worldview that is actually true and provides for the reality in which I actually live!

A worldview needs more than just belief—it needs to be consistent, coherent, and grounded in something that makes sense of the world. Without internal consistency, a worldview is like a puzzle with mismatched pieces—it won’t hold together.

The Next Step

Now that we have a sense of what worldviews are and why internal consistency matters, we’ll take a closer look at how different worldviews measure up. Specifically, we’ll explore why the Trinitarian Christian worldview stands apart as uniquely consistent in the next post.

For now, take a moment to think: Does your worldview hold together? Is it internally consistent with the things you trust most, like logic, morality, and purpose? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments! (Next Entry ->)