Universe Next Door Analysis

In the world today, the only common qualities that we can expect from others are our differences. Living in a pluristic world, we commonly come across people with different worldviews. These worldviews can range from Christian theism all the way to New Age spirituality. These foundations by which people live can be shaped by their specific surroundings or upbringings. They can also be modified as the person changes or gains new experiences. To view a figure who has recently shifted their worldview we need to look no further than the multi Grammy winning musician, Kanye West. In The Universe Next Door, written by James W. Sire, a range of different worldviews are examined and explored. By becoming familiar with these differing worldviews, then analyzing the lyrics and themes of Kanye West’s music, we are able to see a clear shift in his personal worldviews. What began as a Christian theistic view of the world soon shifted towards a cold or modern deistic view. A worldview, according to James H. Olthius, is “a framework or set of fundamental beliefs through which we view the world and our calling and future in it…it is the standard by which reality is managed and pursued; it is the set of hinges on which all out every day thinking and doing turns.” Simply put, it is the foundation on which we live our lives. As Sire discussed worldview in his book, A Universe Next Door, he stated that it is “important to note that our own worldview may not be what we think it is. It is rather what we show it to be by our words and actions (Sire 2009, 21).” This means that it is easiest to gain an understanding of one’s specific worldview by examining what they say and do. This will help you understand their specific view of the world. By doing this and examining the early words and actions of Kanye West, we are able to understand his Christian Theistic worldview. This worldview is shown through his music and words in songs like “Jesus Walks”, “Never Let Me Down”, “Family Business”, and “Two Words.”
Christian Theists, according to Sire, live in a universe charged with the grandeur of God. These theists have a specific view of the nature and character of God, the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, and what happens to a person at death. According to the theistic worldview, God is infinite. He is beyond the scope of time and above all else. He is also personal, omniscient, sovereign, and good. By knowing God is personal, theists are able to relate and speak with God. The Christian theistic view of a personal God is portrayed through Kanye West’s lyrics, in his song, “Jesus Walks”. In the song, West speaks of his quest to follow Jesus and stay away from temptations that surround him. Lyrics such as, “I want to talk to God…we haven’t spoken in so long” and “hear ye, hear ye/want to see Thee more clearly/I know He hears me when my feet get weary” show that West is able to speak with and have a personal relationship with God. This is a specific Christian theistic view, one which believes God is much more than just an impersonal creator of the universe. Aside from their view of God, Christian theists also have a specific view of the universe and how it functions. These specific theistic views are also congruent with the views of Kanye West, as seen in his early work. According to Sire, a Christian theist believes “External reality is the cosmos God created ex nihilo to operate with a uniformity of cause and effect in an open system (Sire 2009, 31).” This means that God created the universe but is still involved in its ongoing operation. The belief that the universe is orderly but not determined leaves the possibility open for God to step in and create miracles. This is commonly referred to as the “open system”. The Christian theistic worldview is once again seen in Kanye West’s early artistic work as he speaks about an open system in his songs. This specific worldview is touched upon in the song “Never Let Me Down” off of West’s debut Album “The College Dropout”. In the song, West reflects on a horrific car accident which almost took his life. In fact he believes that it would have if God had not stepped into the system and created a miracle. This is seen in the lyrics, “You sent tears from Heaven when you seen my car get balled up/I can’t complain what an accident did to my left eye…I know I got Angels watching me from the other side.” These lyrics show that Kanye West held a Christian theistic worldview and understood the universe to be an open system. He believes the universe was not only created by God, but is also continually altered by God. Christian thiests believe God created an open system in which He can create miracles and re order events. Kanye West viewed his near fatal car accident as one such miracle in which God stepped in a changed the order of the universe. Besides their specific view of the personal nature of God, and an open universe, Christian theists also have a specific view pertaining to the motives of humans. The core commitment for Christian theists is to, “live to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Sire 2009, 44).” This point was expanded upon by Sire in his book. Altogether, the driving motive for the lives of all Christian theists is to glorify God. This is done by putting nothing above God and finding fulfillment in Him. Christian theists look to glorify God and one day be reunited in eternity with Him. This pillar of the Christian theistic worldview, seeking the kingdom of God, is once again touched upon in the early work of Kanye West. By listening to songs off of West’s debut album, The College Dropout, such as “Jesus Walks” and “Family Business”, we are able to hear and understand Kanye’s Christian theistic worldview. In Family Business, West speaks about living for God and not for other worldly things. He wants to follow God and be fulfilled in Him. This can be seen in his lyrics, which state, “I woke up early this morning with a new state of mind/A creative way to rhyme without using knives and guns/Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to God/And keep your face to the rising sun.” This worldview was also shown through his lyrics in his song “Jesus Walks”. In the song, West speaks about the modern entertainment industry and how it has removed God from most of its works and art. West knows that a song endorsing Christianity will be looked down upon or not ever played at all. He is aware that it may not be the most financially smart song to make, but is instead deciding to place God above money. In the Song, when West states, “But if I talk about God my record won 't get played, huh?/Well if this take away from my spins, which will probably take away from my ends/Then I hope this take away from my sins and bring the day that I 'm dreaming about,” he is speaking on how he wants to place God above all other worldly things and live to glorify God. By living for God, West hopes it can bring “the day that he dreams about” and can be eternally reunited with God in Heaven. Through listening and examining the lyrics and themes of Kanye West’s music off of his debut album, you can clearly hear his Christian theistic worldview shine through. In his debut album, West raps about and expands upon his personal relationship with God, miracles that God has performed for West in his life, and how he wants to live to glorify God. All these views are consistent with the Christian theistic worldview that is discussed by James Sire in his book, The Universe Next Door. However, as Kanye’s career continued, he quickly rose to fame, and his surroundings changed. With his newfound fame and wealth, listeners are able to hear a dramatic shift in Kanye’s worldview. Gone are the lyrics about a personal relationship with God, and an open system, and in crept lyrics which relate much more with a deist worldview which was explored in Sire’s book. In the book, The Universe Next Door, James Sire explored many different sects of deism. Sire broke down deist views into 3 subcategories; sophisticated scientific deism, sophisticated philosophic deism, and popular deism. By examining these views it is clear to see that the worldview of Kanye West, which was early on expressed in his music as a Christian theist view has since shifted into a popular deism worldview. In his book, Sire explains popular deism as a “simple, easy-going belief in the existence of an omnipotent, impersonal, transcendent being (Sire 2009, 63).” These deists simply view God as an “abstract force that brought the world into existence and has largely left it to operate on its own (Sire 2009, 63).” This is viewed as a closed system; one which is closed to the reordering of God. All in all, this worldview sees the universe as a creation of God which has since been closed to His reordering because he is not interested in it any longer. Unlike his early work, the deist view of an impersonal God who no longer interacts with the universe is expressed in recent work by Kanye West. In his 2011 album, titled “Watch the Throne”, West discusses the clockwork fashion of the universe and the refusal of God to intervene or show Himself through revelation. These points are articulated in the first song on the album, “No Church in the Wild.” In the Song, the chorus states, “Human beings in a mob/What 's a mob to a king? What 's a king to a God? What 's a God to a non-believer who don 't believe in anything?/Will he make it out alive? Alright, alright, no church in the wild.” This view is a startling contrast to the one West expressed 8 years earlier in his debut album. Kanye, who once rapped about God performing miracles to save his life, has now denounced God’s ability to intervene in the ordering of the universe. By stating that there is “no church in the wild”, West is basically stating that prayer is useless. Although he is not disavowing God, he is saying that once He created the universe, he no longer became involved in it. In the wild, humans can no longer look to God to save them or help them because he will not. This view is a complete change from the one West expressed earlier in his career. Aside from believing in a non-personal God and a universe which is a closed system, Sire described other outlooks which make up the popular deist worldview. While discussing the factors that motivate a deist’s life, Sire noted that “people would acknowledge the probable existence of such a being but would largely ignore His existence in their daily lives (Sire 2009, 63).” This means popular deists do not live to glorify God and instead use their own reasons to determine their life goals. As we look at themes expressed through late works in Kanye West’s career and explore his lyrics in songs, it is clear that his Christian theist worldview has shifted towards a deist worldview. His worldview no longer seeks to glorify God and instead seeks other reasons to live for. Examples of Kanye West’s new driving forces in his life can be seen in songs like “The Joy” and “Hell of a Life.” “Hell of a Life” is a song which tells a story of a satisfying life which is ruled by lust and drug use. Likewise, in “The Joy”, Kanye West states, “This beat deserves Hennessy, a fine girl and a bag of weed, The Holy Trinity.” These lyrics show West now places worldly things such as drugs, alcohol, and women above God. He is living a life to satisfy his worldly desires, not a life to glorify God. This change is motivating factors in his life show a transition from Christian theism to popular deism. By examining the musical themes and lyrics created by hip hop superstar Kanye West, viewers are able to recognize a transition from a once Christian theist worldview to a popular deist worldview. A Christian worldview, explained by Sire in his book, is one which sees God as a personal, transcendent, and good. According to Christian deists, God created the universe and re orders it when He chooses to. Knowing God to be good, Christian theists live to seek the kingdom of God and glorify Him through all that they do. These basic principles can be seen throught early songs created by Kanye West, specifically songs like “Never Let Me Down,” “Jesus Walks,” and “Family Business.” However, this Christian theist worldview, for whatever reason, soon shifted towards a popular deist worldview as Kanye’s career continued. This worldview, as explained by Sire, is one which does not believe in a personal God and only sees him as the creator of a universe which is a closed system. Popular deists also do not seek above all things to glorify God and instead use their own autonomous reason to determine their goal in life. Many times, this will lead to popular deists placing other worldly possessions over God. By examining the lyrics in recent songs by Kanye Wests, listening are able to realize his shift in worldviews. Kanye no longer speaks of a personal relationship with God, miracles, or his determination to live for God. Instead he speaks of the absence of God in the real world, and his worldly desires which give his life meaning and motivation. These themes and views are seen in recent songs created by West like “No Church in the Wild,” “The Joy,” and “Hell of a Life.” Thought some people never change worldviews, it is apparent by listening to his music the Kanye West has made the stark change in worldviews throughout his career from a Christian theist worldview to a popular deist worldview.

Works Cited
Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door: a Basic Worldview Catalog. 5th ed. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2009.

Cited: Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door: a Basic Worldview Catalog. 5th ed. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2009.