February 13, 2010

Don't like history? Just rewrite it.

And this is the man doing just that:
"“I consider myself a Christian fundamentalist,” he announced almost as soon as we sat down. He also identifies himself as a young-earth creationist who believes that the earth was created in six days, as the book of Genesis has it, less than 10,000 years ago. He went on to explain how his Christian perspective both governs his work on the state board and guides him in the current effort to adjust American-history textbooks to highlight the role of Christianity."
He is a dentist, btw.

I have no problem adding the religious history of our nation--as long as that includes the bad with the good. Christians were on both sides of mistreatment of Indians, slavery, segregation, child labor, environmental destruction, etc. These particular Christians in Texas, I think, only want that positive role. I remember a conversation with a conservative in-law. I noted the positive role that liberals played in ending slavery and segregation. He retorted, "liberals didn't end slavery, Christians did." And Christian were involved, I agree, but that view tends to forget the vast numbers of American Christians who saw white supremacy as consistent with their Christian beliefs.

But back to these textbook editors. I have no problem including references to prominent Christians who have, for good or ill, changed America. That is the nature of historical inquiry. When they push, however, some idea that God is behind our country, or that we are on some divine mission, they not only encourage arrogance and intolerance, but they step outside history into something historians do not, and are incapable of addressing. In many ways, this approach does more damage than teaching bad facts, but a bad way of thinking about the past.

5 comments:

P M Prescott said...

The only good side to all this crap is that students don't read the book and quickly forget whatever they crammed before the test. Now tell me that this is a good thing...

Streak said...

I had that same thought, PM. :)

Unknown said...

These folks don't see their major theological error: they confuse God's power for Caesar's. Unless people supplicate to them, then they feel their agenda is not taken seriously. Unless they are in charge, then they are being persecuted. Nothing here about being salt and light. But a lot here about Christians needed to have power over others rather than in positions of servanthood.

Streak said...

Kevin, good point. SOF and I discussed this very idea this morning, and we were thinking about the call for Christians to be that witness to those others. Yet these want to humiliate or alienate those others.

Of course, I have had the same question about a Christian "witness" when so many Christians support torture. Or cheer on Sarah Palin. Not a lot of salt and light there.

steves said...

I have a friend who lives in Texas and he pointed out a disturbing reality. He said that Texas typically purchases textbooks as a state, as opposed to it being done by local districts. Therefore, this kind of buying power tends to translate into companies putting out books that are consistent with what Texas wants.

I guess I prefer my history to be factual, or at least backed with some kind of evidence. This includes the good with the bad.