What Is Your Worldview?

Survey among the students of the Medical University - Varna

Although not representative for all students in Varna, the survey is telling of the beliefs and convictions of what is considered an elite Bulgarian youths, the Medical students. The survey was conducted among 65 participants. The questions allow more than one answer.

First, the big picture. According to the biggest group of students, morality is relative and every person defines what is good and what is bad (49%). A person creates his own significance (25%) or it’s based on the fact that they are evolved beings (26%). They create their meaning and values on their own and live according to them (53%). After death they reincarnate (44%) but it is also possible for them to cease to exist (30%). For many one discovers truth by experimenting with data through the five senses (29%). And, finally, God is an impersonal power, which exists in everyone and everything.

Therefore, we could say that most of the students are postmodern relativists (about 35%), followed by the group of the atheists (30%). Among the first group there are many who are pantheists (29%), and in the latter – people who tend to be nihilistic (11%).

Another interesting observation is that, although the atheists comprise a big group, when asked directly whether God exists, only 6% say ‘no’. Does this mean that only they are ‘pure nihilists’? This would correspond better to the bigger picture of religious beliefs in Bulgaria.

This “worldview incongruity” among the answers to different questions is characteristic for most of the students. For example, for one respondent truth is knowable through yoga, meditation, visualization and the Bible (!?) but on the other hand, since we are a product of aimless evolution, we can’t trust our brains, therefore there is no truth! For another, man is an evolved animal but this is not a problem why he shouldn’t create his own meaning and experiment with data, received from his senses. For another one truth is subjective but at the same time he objectively states that all moral misuses are a result of being out of harmony with nature, that there is reincarnation and that God is the Creator of the universe!

How high does Christianity rank among Varna Medical students? Whole 30% claim that God is the creator of the universe and that he is concerned and involved in his creation. On the other hand, only 9.4% believe that there are absolute moral norms given by God. Obviously the fact that God is concerned doesn’t mean for them that he has the right to interfere in their lives.

In the same group 13% are convinced that they have significance and dignity as being created by God’s image. Less people think that they need God’s forgiveness (6.9%). The theme of the sinful human nature is not among the favorite even for those who theoretically believe in God of the Bible. Only 13% believe in the Judgement Day and in heaven and hell. Truth is discovered through the senses, reason and God’s revelation only for 8% of them.

It is necessary to note that nowhere in the Survey the term “Orthodox” or “Christian” has been used. If we had inserted the first term in some of the answers (for example to the question of truth) probably more students would have given the answer that corresponds with the Christian worldview. Most probably these 30% of students who believe that God is concerned about the universe think of themselves as Orthodox Christians because, unlike the Catholics and the Protestants, for this group it is characteristic that they have poor knowledge of the Bible and thus a syncretistic approach to creating their worldview.

The following examples illustrate my point. On one hand, someone may believe that they are created in God’s image but on the other hand for them the Holy Scriptures are not a source for knowing the truth, nor a basis for finding meaning and moral norms. For them there is no life after death either. Another one claims that God exists, truth is known through the senses, reason and the Holy Scriptures but morality is relative, we create our own meaning and after death we cease to exist. A third one states that God exists, there is judgement, heaven and hell, but also reincarnation! God exists, He has created the absolute moral values, we are created in God’s image and need forgiveness, but there is no heaven or hell, nor supernatural revelation! The examples of syncretistic thinking abound.

What conclusions may we draw from this survey? First, the figures given are valid as much as they show the prevailing beliefs of students regarding basic questions of life. Second, it is important to bear in mind that for almost all of them can be said that they combine mechanically mutually exclusive convictions. This shows a lack of an all-round worldview. The survey shows the presence of superficial aspects of metaphysical knowledge based on what the respondents have heard, read or watched (family, friends, books, movies).

According to some this is an expression of the reluctance of today’s young people to embrace a Meta narrative or explanation of the world. Fragmentation in society leads to fragmentation in the spirit. For them morality is a subject of personal choice. The rights are everything, responsibilities – nothing. The choice of beliefs is like shopping in a hypermarket. Yet while in real shopping every person takes into consideration the condition (and sicknesses) of his own body (for example, if you are diabetic you won’t get white bread and French fries), in the spiritual hypermarket everything is allowed… yet just for now. Because sooner or later, in the spiritual, as well as in the physical world, everyone will be hold accountable for his deeds (or lack of deeds).

Most of the students don’t mind believing in one “god” who takes care of their prosperity, keeps them from evil, answers their prayers for happiness, health and luck but who doesn’t interfere in their private lives and turns a blind eye when they act immorally.

In the end, behind this reluctance to live accordingly to the requirements of the Creator is an emphatic individualism and ego-centrism characteristic of the contemporary person. Only he or she (and no one else) has the right to define the meaning, values, criteria of good and evil and even their eternal destiny.

It would be funny if it weren’t sad. Because, instead of realizing that they are created in God’s image and likeness, these young people create an illusory god in their image and likeness. Idle worship is a sin that will be, sooner or later, punished. Because “Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.” (Ps. 16:4)

What is the role of the church in this pitiful situation? What is necessary is continuous efforts and active work among students and young people in general for demolishing these “strongholds in the mind)” (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). Although looking immovable at first sight, these strongholds have no chance when they have the truth of God’s Word against them.

БХСС - лицата се сменят, мисията остава.

BHSS: players change, mission remains unchanged.

A Volunteer's Experience in Student Work

Here is what a friend of mine, Anna, shared about her experience as a volunteer with MEKDSZ Hungary:

The history of my volunteer work with MEKDSZ (Hungarian Fellowship of Evangelical Students) goes back to the 1990s! It lasted six years as my studies were somewhat extended ( I changed subjects after two years of study) and I must say I do not regret it at all. Neither the prolonged years at university, nor volunteering for MEKDSZ, rather, the opposite is true. I can say that together with all the ups and downs I thoroughly enjoyed all those years! People say one’s years at university are the highlights in life as one can do whatever he/she wants without having too much responsibility. The university years give the opportunity for youth to party after party. As for me, I agree with the bit that the years one spends in college education are really special and give much more freedom than the years before or after BUT those years for me were not about ’the freedom for its own sake’. I have never been a party girl but am very social and would not be entirely happy if I had to spend a week alone e.g. in a forest with no people around.

Thus it is not surprising that I ended up becoming one of the leaders in the MEKDSZ group in Janus Pannonius University in Pécs, south-west Hungary. It is a special gift from God that I had a role there and another gift that I was not responsible for the group entirely by myself but always worked in a team with others. Since I like organizing things and going after people these took a major part in my responsibilities; also I enjoyed maintaining a booktable at our university. We set up the booktable on a weekly basis for two or three years!
Tha national organization provided training and support regularly for all groups in the country, these took place both locally and centrally. It was nice that the centrally organized trainings not always took place in Budapest but in other places of the country as well.

The hours I spent with volunteer work are impossible to count, because I haven’t considered the ministry to be any kind of work. I did everything with pleasure and out of the love Christ gave me by saving my life and directing me to take part in leading others to become christians and/or taking being a christian seriously. I mean serving others is part of us being christians and it is not a duty like doing household jobs or the like. As I understood from God, it is a way of life, a very special opportunity to take part in God’s work. Actually, due to all this, my struggle came when after 6 years of ”volunteering” for MEKDSZ I became a full time staff worker. I even felt ashamed for getting payed for doing something as a job very similar to what I used to do for many years in my freetime!

Coming back to the training and support received int he MEKDSZ group, we were helped both in our own spiritual growth and understanding of what the Bible teaches us, and were mentored by travelling secretaries. We were provided with help in leading the group, mentoring group members, organizing special events, arranging outreaches at the university (e.g. 3-day evangelism) and of course with encouragement when things were not going the way we expected and felt blue and disappointed. We were certainly looked after well. Even though speaking of years before the age of e-mailing/facebook.etc. We corresponded by regular mail and used phone boots as neither we nor the staff workers had cell phones and making calls from the student hall of residence was hard too!


It’s pretty difficult to pick one encouraging story as there are many of them BUT perhaps one of the greatest miracles for us was the occasion when we got permission for having our fellowship group meetings held on campus. It turned out that at the time when we asked for permission to use a room regularly at university for Bible studies there was a meeting at the dean’s office that several professors attended. I cannot recall the number of participants, I only know there were more than 6 people and us, the two leaders of the MEKDSZ group with a request for permission and handmade A3-size-poster with the invitation for the Bible study group on it in our hands. We knew a lot of people were praying for us when paying the visit at the dean’s office, that’s how we dared entering the room... When we told the purpose of our visit, the dean took the poster and gave it to the professors who all read it one by one. Some of them were nodding when reading it through and in the end they all agreed this course was worth supporting and wished us success! So we got the permission right on spot!! It is an experience that is hard to forget.


Another highlight that must be shared whenever I recall those years of ’volunteering’ for MEKDSZ is our daily prayer meetings in a central location of the city. We got a room in a Catholic church that we could use every single weekday morning between 7:15 and 7:45. There were only a few catholics among us, bu the priest was really open in the parish and felt being honored by approaching him with our request for a place for morning devotions run by ourselves. Perhaps the maximum number of people can be seated there is 20 and I am glad to say there were days when we filled the chapel room. And there were many days when there were ’only’ three of us BUT we didn’t mind. Of course we prayed others would join us too because those morning praise and prayer time with a short devotion included made such a difference on our days!

We took turns in leading the devotions and that was also special. God blessed us soooo much there. I wish from the bottom of my heart that everyone experiences something like that. Continuous fellowship with others in serving the Lord together on a regular basis. That is dear to God for sure and enriching for individuals.
Let me close with some words from the Bible that I can relate to my experiences with the MEKDSZ group in Pécs university and ever since. If we have the right attitude and approach to work we can experience the PEACE OF GOD indeed: ”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anyhing is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” /Philippians 4,4–9/

Български

Eто какво сподели Анна, една моя позната от MEKDSZ, Унгария, относно своя опит като доброволен сътрудник в унгарското студентскадвижение.

Моята доброволческа работа в MEKDSZ започва още в началото на 90-те. Бях доброволен сътрудник 6 години, тъй като се прехвърлих в друга специалност две години след началото на следването си. Трябва да кажа, че не съжалявам изобщо – нито за по-дългото си следване, нито за работата като доброволец за MEKDSZ, а точно обратното. Мога да кажа, че макар и не винаги всичко да е вървяло по мед и масло, това бяха едни прекрасни години! Казват, че годините в университета са най-хубавото нещо в живота, защото човек може да прави каквото си иска без да има големи отговорности. Следването в университета е един непрекъснат купон. Съгласна съм, че в университета човек има много повече свобода, отколкото след това, НО за мен тези години не бяха свързани с този вид ‘свобода’. Никога не съм била купонджийка, но съм много общителна и нямаше да съм много щастлива, ако трябваше да прекарам цяла седмица сама – например в гората, без хора наоколо.

Затова не е изненадващо, че се оказах един от лидерите в групата на MEKDSZ в университета в Печ, югозападна Унгария. Считам за специален подарък от Бога, че имах тази роля, и за друг подарък, че не се налагаше да отговарям сама за групата, но винаги работех в екип с другите. Понеже съм добър организатор и обичам да се грижа за хората, тези неща бяха моя основна отговорност. Освен това ми харесваше да отговарям за книжния щанд в нашия университет, който поддържахме един ден от седмицата в продължение на 2-3 години!

Националната организация редовно предоставяше обучение и подкрепа за всички групи в страната на местни и национални форуми. Харесваше ми, че последните се провеждаха не само в Будапеща, но и на други места в страната. Не знам колко часа седмично съм работила, защото никога не съм си давала сметка – това за мен не беше работа. Правех всичко с удоволствие и поради любовта, която Христос ми е дал, заедно със спасението и желанието да помагам на другите да стават християни и да гледат на християнството сериозно. Искам да кажа, че да служим на другите е част от това да си християнин, а не задължение, като например да се грижиш за домакинството. Бог ми помогна да осъзная, че това е начин на живот, много специална възможност да участвам в Божието дело. Всъщност, поради всичко това, имах вътрешна борба дали да приема да стана служител на пълно работно време след 6 години на ‘доброволна работа’ за MEKDSZ. Даже се срамувах, че ще получавам пари за нещо много подобно на това, което правех дълги години в свободното си време!

Благодарение на обучението и подкрепата, която получавахме в студентската група, ние можехме да израстваме духовно и да разбираме по-добре Библията. Освен това имахме срещи за ученичество с работниците на движението. Те ни помагаха във воденето на групата, в съветването на членовете на групата, организирането на евангелизации в университета (напр. 3-дневни евангелизационни прояви) и разбира се с насърчение, когато нещата не се развиваха по очаквания начин и ние се чувствахме обезсърчени. Наистина се грижеха добре за нас, макар и тогава все още да нямаше имейл, фейсбук и т.н. Кореспондирахме с обикновени писма и се обаждахме от телефонните будки, тъй като нито ние, нито работниците имаха мобилни телефони, а да се обадиш от общежитието също беше трудно! 

Ако трябва да споделя за едно насърчително нещо, може би най-голямото чудо за нас беше, когато получихме разрешение нашата група да се среща в университета. Случи се така, че точно когато отидохме да помолим за разрешение да използваме една аудитория за библейско изучаване, в кабинета на ректора имаше ректорски съвет. Присъстваха 6 човека, плюс ние, двамата лидери на групата на MEKDSZ, с молба за разрешение и ръчно изработен А3 постер с покана за библейско изучаване. Знаехме, че много хора се молят за нас в момента, затова се осмелихме да влезем в кабинета... Когато казахме защо сме дошли, ректорът взе постера и го даде на професорите, които го прочетоха един по един. Някои от тях кимаха, докато четяха и накрая всички те се съгласиха, че този курс си заслужава да бъде подкрепен и ни пожелаха успех! Така че, получихме разрешение направо на място!! Никога няма да забравя този момент.

Друго запомнящо се нещо за годините на ‘доброволчество’ за MEKDSZ бяха всекидневните молитвени събирания в центъра на града. Получихме помещение в католическата църква, която можехме да използваме всяка сутрин между 7:15 и 7:45 ч. В групата ни имаше само няколко католици, но свещеникът беше много отворен и дори се почувства поласкан, че сме го помолили за място за сутрешни събития, които да провеждаме. Стаята побираше 20 човека, но имаше дни, когато беше препълнена с хора. Имаше и такива, когато бяхме ‘само’ трима човека, НО това не ни пречеше. Разбира се, молехме се и други да се присъединят, защото това време на поклонение и молитва правеше дните ни различни! Редувахме се във воденето им и това също беше страхотно. Бог ни благославяше тоолкова много там. От цяло сърце искам всеки да може да го преживее. Да има продължително общение с другите в служение на Господа заедно на редовни срещи. Това е благоугодно на Бога и обогатяващо за хората.

Нека завърша с текст от Библията, който свързвам с опитностите си от групата на MEKDSZ в Университета в Печ. Ако имаме правилното отношение и подход към работата, наистина можем да преживеем БОЖИЯ МИР: „Радвайте се всякога в Господа! Пак казвам: Радвайте се! Вашата кротост да бъде позната на всички човеци; Господ е близо. Не се безпокойте за нищо, но във всяко нещо с молитва и молба изказвайте прошенията си на Бога с благодарение; и Божият мир, който никой ум не може да схване, ще пази сърцата ви и мислите ви в Христос Исус. Най-накрая, братя, всичко, което е истинно, което е честно, което е праведно, което е чисто, което е любезно, което е благодатно, ако иманещо добродетелно и ако има нещо похвално - това зачитайте. Това, което сте и научили, и приели, и чули, и видели в мене, него вършете; и Бог на мира ще бъде с вас” (Фил. 4:4-9).

Is Anything Worth Believing In? Lessons from the Eastern Bloc

John Lennox, Jan de Vries
University of California, Berkeley
5 April 2011
Over the course of human history, ideas have come and gone, countless religions into existence, and movements for change have succeeded and failed. Amidst all that is out there, the question remains: what, if anything, is worth believing in? Come find out as professor of mathematics and apologist John Lennox gives his response, drawing from his experiences with atheism and theism in Eastern Europe.

Personal Position: Reality and Application Survey

europe: publicly communicating the gospel in universities

Earlier this month, 80 people from 30 countries gathered to attend the IFES Europe Evangelists Conference in Austria. They were mostly from Europe but a few people came from as far as Central Asia, South Pacific and North America to observe. This is the second conference of its kind and aims to develop public evangelism in the different countries.

Immediately following the conference, teams were partnering with different IFES movements in publicly communicating the gospel in universities in six cities of Europe: Budapest University in Hungary, Prague University in the Czech Republic, Ljubljana University in Slovenia, Vienna University in Austria, Belgrade University in Serbia, and Skopje University in Macedonia.

Some friends from Slovenia wrote after the event: 'A highlight of the trip was the lecture at the philosophical department for 30 students and three professors at the university. The theme was "The New Atheism" and the response was very positive - the professors actually asked if we could come back! A team member prayed with one girl who became a Christian. Praise the Lord!

'The second highlight was the public debate at the university in Ljubljana. It was held in a small room, with about 50 chairs, but became packed with 80 students. The debate went well; the Christian students were encouraged and a number of non-Christians challenged.'

Over the last couple of years, a total of 130 people have attended the Evangelists Conferences. Pray that 50 of them will become public evangelists for universities in Europe, strengthening the ministry of the 25 people who are already working in that area. Pray too for God's direction and blessings on the plans to develop similar programs for Eurasia, and possibly for the South Pacific and Canada too.

BHSS National Conference

THEME AND PROGRAM

This year the BHSS National Conference starts with lunch on 23 October (Friday) and ends up by 4 p.m. on 25 October (Sunday). Main speaker will be Nikola Galevski (Gen Sec of Exodus Macedonia). He will speak on the Letter to the Galatians. There will be tracks on ‘Holiness’, ‘What the Full Good News Include’, ‘Choices We Make in a Pluralist World’, and ‘Ethnic/Racial Reconciliation’. Other than that, there will be small groups, a seminar on ‘What Is a Student Movement’, cultural evening, sports, etc. There will be groups of students from both Exodus Macedonia and BSKSh Albania, and possibly, other IFES movements.


FEE

The fee is 35 euro for participants from Eastern Europe and 80 euro for Western Europe. It covers two nights plus full boarding. It does not include travel to the venue. If you come from Romania, a return bus ticket from Russe to Veliko Turnovo (about 100 kms away from Russe) would cost about 10 euro. If you come from Macedonia, Greece or Serbia, a return bus ticket from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo (about 240 kms away from Sofia) would cost about 18 Euro.


TRAVEL

From Veliko Turnovo we can help with the transportation to the venue in Liaskovets (Liaskovets is 6 kms away from Veliko Tarnovo). The participants will be accommodated in a nice hotel, so you don’t need to bring sleeping bags or bed sheets. Things you will need: Bible, pen and textbook, comfortable clothes and shoes, items to present your culture with and openness to meet with people from other IFES movements. Main expositions will be given in English. There will be English interpreters provided for the seminars and the small groups.


HOW TO APPLY

Your application can be send via email and should include your first and family name, university name, year at university, name of your organization (IFES movement), city address, country of residence, email address, and telephone number. Please, send your questions and applications to Trif & Vanya Trifonovs, trifvanya@mbox.contact.bg . In case you need visa for Bulgaria, contact your National Movement or email the BHSS National Office (office@bhss-org.com ) in Sofia so we might send a letter of invitation.

Wage War on Pluralist Totalitarism

Recently we had our Parliamentary elections. A new party won and formed the new Cabinet. They are determined to deal with the shockingly-high corruption and crime, finish some important infrastructure projects and take a better care of the Bulgarians abroad. There are chances that the situation will improve since the socialists turned Bulgaria into a Russian satellite again and played hide and seek with mafia (so, people say, it can’t be worse than that). Yet, in spite of the possibility of improvement, there will be many who will be again disappointed. To us as Christians the solution is clear. Shall we be there for the people and offer Christ to them when they need him most desperately?

As for BHSS, my prayer is that we will continue the battle against the pluralist (and interestingly, totalitarian) strongholds at our universities which don’t tolerate any other opinion than their own and don’t let other voices to be heard at the public square. We must continue raising the profile of BHSS and the Church and at the same time fighting for our constitutional right to be able to express our beliefs in public at university. For now it is a state-in-the-state situation, with its anti-constitutional regulations banning religious activities on campus. It is a war that might well take a lifetime or more, but it is a war that is worth waging. May God be with us!