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In history we find so many amazing and wonderful things, some things have even been lost to time only to be found again centuries later. As Historians, we delve into the many depths of civilizations and learn as well as discover their beginnings and development over time compared to how these civilizations are today. One view in history many may not think about when learning about ancient civilizations and their religions is the Christian worldview of history.
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To start I'll try to answer the question many have, what is the Christian Worldview of history? It's not what one might automatically assume it to be, as a narrow-minded way of thinking or that they only try to make everything into a Christian view. The Christian worldview isn't cynical or even random, and can even help one understand history. It simply means that history is viewed in a linear perspective full of meaningful events, that there is one God, and that all of the events that happen in history have happened in accordance with God's plan for humanity. The linear view that Christian worldviews of history are different from that of the circular view of history. What I mean by that is the Christian worldview of history doesn't coincide with the classic saying, "History repeats itself".
Circular views in history believe that history does indeed repeat over time, a never-ending circle of similar or the same events happening at different points in time. While some historical events do seem similar, there is still a "line" in place, that some events have thankfully not repeated themselves. There is still a higher power at hand whether you are Christian or not, which makes it hard to dispute that things do happen for a reason.
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| picture courtesy of blog.history.ac.uk |
One of the greatest philosophers that have looked at and shown a good perspective of both sides of thinking is British philosopher, Hebert Butterfield. His book, "The Whig Interpretation of History" is one of his most recognizable and impactful works that is worth a read when trying to understand different perspectives of history. Butterfield believed that being able to separate mindsets and views on the present can help how you study, critique, and interpret the past without letting today's viewpoints influence you. Historians, Christian and Atheist alike, have to be mindful of other beliefs and perspectives and not let bias misinterpret facts from being true. This is what Butterfield discussed and believed to be of the utmost importance in historian studies, and I agree. If we go into a project, situation, or research in the wrong mindset we tend to already have our perspective already lined up for what we may think is true due to the modern world around us. In Butterfield's words and thoughts on Whig Historians, who leaned in favor of writing a history of progress and revolutions, they look into history incorrectly and make it out to be something it isn't. The Christian worldview of history has its beliefs in line but keeps an open mind to other beliefs and does not let its own hinder it's striving for finding absolute truths in its historical research.
I think Butterfield summed it up very well with one of his most famous quotes, "The academic mind can eat away the very basis of its own assurance ... produce contortions when it tries to bend over backward ... allow itself to be dismayed by the picture it has created of the relentless historical process". In other words, the mind, even the best of academic minds, can twist perspectives to what they want to see and believe.
