This hub is personal speculation and takes an overall look at the study of history from the viewpoint of a middle-aged Protestant woman who grew up in California between the stricter mores of the early 20^th century and the more permissive values of the latter part of it.  It includes a general description of history, a look at the search for absolute truth in a relative, sinful world, and attempts to be objective in order to resolve differences of opinion as to what can be defined as “history”.

History, according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, is “. . . a narration of events in the order in which they happened, with their causes and effects,” (Webster, 1828).   However, even a first-person account can be interpreted differently by different people as to motivations, and one cannot help but feel inadequate to personally understand all the circumstance by which history is made and reported.  However, a quest for knowledge and a thirst for understanding and fulfillment makes the study of history both interesting and a worthwhile effort.

History, again according to Webster, is also “An account of facts, particularly of facts respecting nations or states. . .” (Webster, 1828).   This is a rather simplistic view, begging the question “What are the facts?”  An unknown someone said “History is written by the winners,” inferring that the only people and events to be remembered at any given time are personal to the powerful, and anything else is irrelevant. 

While this may be true to some extent, it seems more prudent to realize that while a certain “spin” can be put on a description of events at such times, the absolute truth is there for the learning, if one does his best to seek knowledge for its own sake, rather than an agenda set by society, politics or religion. 

In this author’s case, the study of history has been more a journey of self-discovery and personal place in the scheme of things. That this search also includes a deep personal belief in the absolute truth of God in the lives of men only makes it that much more appealing. It is not a matter of proving someone else wrong as much as it is a challenge to others to disprove God’s absolute interest in my life personally and in mankind historically.

This, of course, leads to a great difference of opinion depending on whom one is talking to.  The non-believer may express a desire to be self-determining, and so will see history as a series of steps to a better world with all problems solved by man’s ingenuity; a Star Trek utopia.  The casual believer might think of God as not unlike the mythological gods of the Ancients: supervising the weather and such, but only interfering in man’s affairs as a means to gain their own glory.  A Muslim may see a series of acts by the holiest of men in order to bring a fallen world to Allah.  A Catholic may note God’s punishment over the millennia for Adam’s original sin.  A Protestant, especially one from the United States, quite often sees history as all events leading up to a final confrontation with anyone and everyone who doesn’t believe in the U.S. Constitution.

All options are valid, in that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 

A true study of history, especially for this author, is to examine all aspects of events and issues with a goal of allowing God to act personally and relationally with mankind and herself.