He founded the Free University of Amsterdam, today a major world university. Thus he saw the Reformed faith, not as just the best expression of one's personal and individual salvation, but as a total world and life view. Man was to see and acknowledge the sovereignty of God in every area of human activity. Simply stated, it is the way that one views the world and life as it exists in and around humanity. It is the way one views reality.
Every person living has a world and life view.
He may or may not be conscious of that view, but he lives his life in accord with that view. Either he sees God as totally sovereign in every sphere of life and every part of the world, or he makes man sovereign in some or all spheres of life. The two views are antithetical. The world and life view that sees man as sovereign, a view known today as secular humanism, rejects the majesty and authority of God. This system attempts to set up an artificial authority based upon the free, autonomous will of the individual.