History

History CurriculumHistory Resources

As with most things, C.S. Lewis had a unique view of history. For him, the really important bits were the stories—he makes a distinction between actual historical realities and the idealized versions of them handed down which make heroes and villains of mere men and women. It's not that the stories are completely false, but their value is for character-building, not as factual data.

The tales of George Washington's bravery in battle, coolness under pressure, rigorous truthfulness, and unflagging piety may accurately preserve the essence of his temperament and nobility, but not all of them are strictly historical. The point of these stories isn't to impart facts, however, it's to offer an example of goodness for the rest of us to emulate.

Getting the facts right is still important, though. As Christians, we can't afford to have a false understanding of "the old days." Mankind is fallen, and the story of his sojourn on Earth is filled with war, suffering, disease, unfaithfulness, pride and envy; a study of history that omits those elements is both false and useless. False, because it is incomplete, and useless, because it tells us nothing of the human condition or our current situation.

It's a bit of a mystery to us why non-Christians are motivated to study the past. For believers, the end goal isn't just acquisition of facts about events and cultures, it's the instillation of a thoroughly Christian worldview, an understanding of the course of the human endeavour as decreed and guided by God Himself.

The story of Jesus Christ is central. It is the only history story that fulfills the character-building element Lewis looked for, while remaining absolutely true in every detail. Man is fallen and he does struggle against God, but through Christ there is hope of redemption, a chance to connect heaven and earth through the Atonement. Christ is the ultimate example of God's providence.

In the Reformed tradition, God's sovereignty is a very big deal. According to the doctrine of divine decree, God has ordered all things that were, are and will come to be for His own good pleasure and glory. His hand is thus present everywhere, in the privatest private life and the most public and widespread crisis. God is in control, providentially guiding nations, men, and the entire cosmos.

This very doctrine is perhaps what best explains the humanist's interest in history (whether he be atheist, agnostic, pagan). Man's natural bent is to make himself the hero of the story, to show how people can sway the trajectory of all things. God's version is quite different, and the two are naturally in conflict. Resolution may only be found in Christ.

For, while God decrees and guides all things, He has also (paradoxically) decreed man's free will and personal responsibility. Men do change the course of kingdoms, but it is only through God's agency. A proper Christian study of history takes both truths into account, and tells the stories of good guys and bad guys through the light of everything God's Word says about human nature and divine control.

We encourage you to take great comfort and joy in your study of history. Read books, watch movies (carefully noting that a lot of the story is likely to be inaccurate in detail), go on fieldtrips to forts and battlefields and birthplaces. Most of all, talk about these things. The end goal, after all, isn't to know a bunch of trivia, but to understand what God has done and continues to do.

No one knows for sure what the end of history will look like, except that every knee in heaven and on earth will bow to the returned glorious Christ, who comes to judge the living and the dead. What we believe about Him will determine whether that culmination will be filled with joy or loathing (everyone will be terrified). He is the author of history, and its centerpiece; honor Him in your study of it.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

 

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18 Penny Goose
An I Can Read Book Level 3
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Adam of the Road
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Amazing Mind of Granville Woods
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And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
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Ben and Me
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Childhood of Famous Americans
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Step Into Reading Level 3
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Childhood of Famous Americans
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Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross
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Childhood of Famous Americans
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Childhood of Famous Americans
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Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Days of Knights & Damsels
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Defenders, The
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Door in the Wall
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Drinking Gourd
An I Can Read Book Level 3
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Early Cars
Junior Golden Guides
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Elizabeth Blackwell: Girl Doctor
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Emily's Runaway Imagination (Dockray illustrations)
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Little House Series #3
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Fireflies in the Dark
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Five Chinese Brothers
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George S. Paton: War Hero
Childhood of Famous Americans
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George the Drummer Boy
An I Can Read Book Level 3
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Historical fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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George Washington
Childhood of Famous Americans / History's All-Stars
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George Washington's Breakfast
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George Washington, Spymaster
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George Washington: Our First Leader
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Geronimo: Young Warrior
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Going West
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Gonna Sing My Head Off
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Grain of Rice
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Great Fashion Designs of the Victorian Era - Paper Dolls in Full Color
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Guide to Australia
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$1.50 (3 in stock)
Harriet Tubman: Freedom's Trailblazer
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Harry Houdini: Master of Magic
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Henry Ford: Young Man with Ideas
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Hill of Fire
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Thomas Lewis & Joan Sandin
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Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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History of Mexico: An Introduction
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Homer Price
Puffin Modern Classics
by Robert McCloskey
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House on Walenska Street
by Charlotte Herman
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Hundred Dresses
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Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
1945 Newbery Honor Book
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Hundred Penny Box
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Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
Newbery Honor
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Hundred Penny Box
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Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
1976 Newbery Honor Book
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In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
by Bette Bao Lord
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Immigration for 2nd-6th grade
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In Their Own Words: Abraham Lincoln
In Their Own Words
by George Sullivan
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Biography for 3rd-4th grade
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Ivan and the Daring Escape
by Myrna Grant
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Ivan and the Informer
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Ivan and the Secret in the Suitcase
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Jackie Robinson: Young Sports Trailblazer
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Herb Dunn
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Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker
Childhood of Famous Americans
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$7.99
Jim Elliot - Unit Study Curriculum Guide
by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge
Study Guide from Emerald Books
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
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Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express
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John Glen: Young Astronaut
Childhood of Famous Americans
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John Muir: Young Naturalist
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Montrew Dunham
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$10.95
Josefina Story Quilt
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Eleanor Coerr
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Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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Journey to America
Journey to America Saga #1
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Justin Morgan Had a Horse
by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis
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Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade
1946 Newbery Honor Book
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Kidnapped Prince
by Olaudah Equiano
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King Tut - Coloring Book
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Les Miserables (adapted)
Stepping Stones: A Chapter Book
by Victor Hugo, Adapted by Monica Kulling
from Random House
Historical Fiction for 1st-4th grade
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Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt
by C. Coco De Young
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Historical fiction for 3rd-8th grade
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Letters from Rifka
by Karen Hesse
from Puffin Books
Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
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Lights In Lisuland
CF4Kids Trail Blazers
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
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