Hebraic vs Western Thinking

Hebraic vs Western Thinking – A Comparison

Western: Life analyzed in precise categories
Hebrew: Everything blurs into everything else.


Western: A split between natural & supernatural
Hebrew: Supernatural affects everything.


Western: Linear logic
Hebrew: Contextual or "block" logic "


Western: "Rugged Individualism"
Hebrew: Importance of being part of group

Western: Equality of persons
Hebrew: Value comes from place in hierarchies


Western: Freedom orientation
Hebrew: Security orientation


Western: Competition is good
Hebrew: Competition is evil (cooperation is better)


Western: Man-centered universe
Hebrew: God/tribe/family-centered universe


Western: Worth of person based on money/material possessions/power
Hebrew: Worth derived from family relationships


Western: Biological life sacred
Hebrew: Social life supremely important


Western: Chance + cause & effect limit what can happen
Hebrew: God causes everything in his universe


Western: Man rules nature through understanding and applying laws of science
Hebrew: God rules everything, so relationship with God determines how things turn out.



Western: Power over others achieved through business, politics and human organizations.
Hebrew: Power over others is structured by social patterns ordained by God.


Western: All that exists is the material
Hebrew: The universe is filled with powerful spirit beings


Western: Linear time divided into neat segments. Each event is new
Hebrew: Cyclical or spiraling time. Similar events constantly reoccur


Western: History is recording facts objectively and chronologically
Hebrew: History is an attempt to preserve significant truths in meaningful or memorable ways whether or not details are objective facts.


Western: Oriented to the near future
Hebrew: Oriented to lessons of history


Western: Change is good = progress
Hebrew: Change is bad = destruction of traditions


Western: Universe evolved by chance
Hebrew: Universe created by God


Western: Universe dominated and controlled by science and technology
Hebrew: God gave man stewardship over his earthly creation. Accountability to God.


Western: Material goods = measure of personal achievement
Hebrew: Material goods = measure of God’s blessing


Western: Blind faith
Hebrew: Knowledge-based faith


Western : Time as points on straight line "at this point in time…"
Hebrew: Time determined by content "In the day that the Lord did…"