[Today I am going back to my roots and using this long-neglected website for school assignments! For the past year or so I have been taking online classes (my preference even when there is no pandemic) with Liberty University, and I am currently wrapping up my history degree. Today's assignment is to make a blog post about what should be the perspective a Christian historian. I am struggling mightily not to exceed the world limit of 300, and I wish I could flesh out everything more. Alack. Personally, I do not consider this paragraph to count toward that limit.]
A Christian historian should approach history honestly, in all its complexity. It may be tempting to let the narrative of one's religion or political party dominate the study of history, but this is best avoided. Whig history, for example, is a perspective which assumes that history is experiencing progress. Whigs historians believed that progress was the result of certain key events and people whom they viewed as good.
In contrast, forces throughout history that opposed these agents of progress were viewed by Whig historians in an overtly negative way. A similar interpretation is Providentialism, in which the causes of progress are ordained as such by God.
The problem with Whig historians and Providentialists is not necessarily these beliefs. The problem is that these beliefs are uncritically promoted to assumptions, and then fallaciously used to prove themselves as conclusions (and to justify moral judgments). They prevent their adherents from admitting to the true complexity of history.
Augustine sets a better example. Reflecting on the 410 sack of Rome, he rejected the rather Providentialist notion that Rome was an invincible agent of Christian progress. Progress may exist in the City of God, but in the City of Man (including Rome), it is no sure thing.
Augustine's perspective is probably not perfect, especially if its conclusions about the trajectory of the City of Man are promoted to assumptions. But it demonstrates how one can believe in Providence without assuming a dishonest, circular, and overly-simplistic historical perspective.
As a Christian, I do believe that Providence is causing progress in history. But I do not assume that history conforms neatly to my own finite conception of providence. Both providence and history are simply too complex. Being honest about this fact is very important for the Christian historian.
Sources
Butterfield, Herbert. The Whig Interpretation of History. 1931.
City of Man, City of God. BBC Worldwide, 2010.
Smith, Sam. "Christian Worldview and History". Presentation. Liberty University, 2014.
Butterfield, Herbert. The Whig Interpretation of History. 1931.
City of Man, City of God. BBC Worldwide, 2010.
Smith, Sam. "Christian Worldview and History". Presentation. Liberty University, 2014.