Recent Thoughts on The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History

Recent Thoughts on 

The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History

Probably, most people consider the discipline of history one of the most boring subjects that we teach.  On a few occasions in Bible study, one member of the church suggested that reading history is the cure to insomnia.  I could not disagree more vehemently!  Actually, the study of history has a very vital spiritual dimension.  Both the Old and New Testaments contain substantial sections of history.  The Bible records the history, religion and literature of the Hebrew people in its first division and the origins, theology, and sacred writings of the early Christians in its second part.  The current generation of biblical scholars approaches the study of the scriptures by beginning with the social, economic, political and religious contexts of the Bible.  Practically speaking, they start outside of the text and work their way into its meanings for the original audience and for contemporary believers.  The previous cohort of Bible scholars did the reverse.  Their method of rigid textual exposition, while most rewarding for the average disciple interested in the rhetoric and nuances of the words, leaves the inadvertent impression that the historical, critical and analytical method is optional.  In actuality, the study of biblical origins which includes an in-depth evaluation of the people greatly informs our current challenges as people of faith in scientifically advancing, technologically rapid and post-modern world.  Our forebears in the faith faced similar struggles relative to their historical era.  From a spiritual point of view, we glean tremendous empathy and encouragement from their past way of life.  Yet, if we relegate the study of their past lives to meaninglessness, we rob ourselves of incalculable blessings.

The recent death of the very public historian, the late Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., reignited my considerations and passions for the study of history.  As he exited the stage of life, Professor Schlesinger, at a lunch held in honor at the end of last year, took another opportunity to remind us of “the relevance of history” in all matters.  He particularly addressed his rather serious concern about the escalating conflict in Iraq and the significant role that history could have played in helping the leaders of the country to avoid engaging this catastrophe.  “History is the best antidote to delusions of omnipotence and omniscience forcing us to a recognition of the fact, so often and so sadly displayed, that the future outwits all our certitudes.”  The costly and painful lessons of Vietnam and Korea should have sufficed to warn the Executive and Legislative branches of our government, specifically, and the American people, generally, of the potential dangers to invading a sovereign nation embroiled within an internal dispute.  History is a great teacher if we are willing to study and learn.  In ways, this most important discipline amongst the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences crystallizes what the Bible refers to a “Wisdom” or “Sophia” as the collection of books, in the Old Testament by those name, detail.

A rather laudatory editorial, published in The New York Times to commemorate the life and work of Professor Schlesinger, noted another aspect of his valedictory warnings to the academic community, the government, the policy decision-making cadre and concerned citizens at-large.  “But a far more grievous failing, he said, is to ignore history altogether, especially in a nation that has so often demonstrated imperial appetites.”  We ignore history to our great detriment.  In the last four years, we have spent one half trillion dollars ($500,000,000,000); sacrificed the lives of more than 3300 American military personnel (many of whom were in their late teens and early twenties age wise) and allowed more than forty thousand (40,000) other enlisted men and women to return home with lifelong and severe wounds.  A serious historical reading of the Vietnam conflict foreshadows those current results of the Iraq war.  We often hear that those persons who fail to respect history end up repeating it.  The intractable hubris and infinite recalcitrance of the Bush Administration substantially undermines the prosperity, security and standing of the United States.  Simply, the President’s ignorance of history and that of his chief advisers continues to extract an innumerable toll upon our nation.

On an individual level, failure to know one’s history leads to self-doubt, fear and a lack of self-acceptance.  On a benign basis, one falls for the social mores of the dominant culture.  The wizards of Madison Avenue easily convince one of their correctness about one’s self-worth with regard to clothing, cologne, cars and other material consumption.  On a more sinister and cynical level, one might fall prey to the abyss of self-contempt and self-hatred.  When the pervasive standards of beauty insists upon hues, features, skin tones and physiques that are not African-American, how does one love and accept one’s self as a Black person who does not possess those societal expectations?  I posit that a genuine acceptance and detailed knowledge of one’s history considerably mitigates the overbearing and perhaps unjust nature of society’s assessment of one’s worth.  Professor James H. Cone, the Charles Augustus Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, submits, “A person without a history is a person without a personality.”

Recent Thoughts on The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History Part II

Recent Thoughts on 

The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History 

Part II

The grand verses of Psalm 139:13-16 teach us to love and accept ourselves as unique children of Almighty God.  Inner healing and wholeness cannot emerge in the life of a person who fails to accept himself or herself as a child of God.  Self-doubt negates one’s ability to discover God’s purposes for life.  Wishing that one was someone other than one’s self greatly impedes one’s willingness to enjoy the abundant and eternal life that God offers in Christ.  Accordingly, I find the study of history central to the acquisition of the necessary self-acceptance to lead a holistic, successful, peaceful and fulfilling life.  History, then, possesses a very spiritual dimension.  It provides the emotional, psychological, mental and intellectual foundation for one’s personality.

Surprisingly, my trip to Turkey in July of last year with my colleagues in the Nashville Institute for Clergy Excellence taught me a lot about the substantive contributions of Africans to the ancient world.  As an African-American clergyperson, I find spiritual empowerment in discovering the myriad and majestic ways in which Almighty God revealed and continues to embody His creativity, contributions and gifts to humankind through people of African descent.  In the words of the Chaplain at Dartmouth College during my undergraduate years, The Rev. Dr. James P. Breeden, “Thank you God for your Blackness!”

In the center of Istanbul, a 3500 year old monument from Egypt stands prominently, piercing the surrounding skyline.  I posit that the Washington Monument in Washington DC was modeled after this structure, the name of which escapes me.  Incidentally, this monument was transported from Egypt in one piece via the “arcane” and “archaic” boating system of that time.  It still possesses the deeply engraved beauty of its original artwork, symbols and hieroglyphics.  Simply stated, it is a commanding structure which survives as an enduring testament of the invaluable origins of the African people to the ancient world.  This perspective is often left out of the great Western survey courses.  Second, we visited a synagogue on the first day of the trip.  In its sanctuary, we viewed the most ornate and rich wood, deeply black, which encased The Torah.  The guide mentioned that the wood came from Africa.  It was not painted.  Third, we traveled to the ruins of the great library at Pergamum.  At one time, this library contained more than 200,000 scrolls.  The library at Celsus in Ephesus had approximately 120,000 scrolls.  But, the ancient library at Alexandria in Egypt had more than 500,000 scrolls, making it the largest library in the ancient world.  Had it nit burned in the ninth century B.C., imagine the incalculable worth of its collection today.  Lest I fall pray to fallacy of a atavistic view of African history and culture, I cite these facts as being as central to the preaching of the gospel in the United States as a more imaginative and definitive reading of the book of Ephesians.  The cherished New Testament was used historically to subject people of African descent in the U. S.  Contemporarily, many expressions of American televangelism and the “Religious Right” acquiesce the residual White supremacist notions and theological hegemony of American Christianity.  Therefore, as an African-American clergyperson, I find it necessary to emphasize the contributions of African people in Diaspora, generally, and to the Christian faith, specifically.  It was most serendipitous to learn some new facts in this regard during my recent trip to Turkey.

In addition to learning about the inventions, artwork, labor, and cultural contributions of my African and African-American forbears, I am most interested in their intellectual, theological and ideological legacy.  To that end, I devour the books of DuBois, Baldwin and John Hope Franklin.  Primarily, I chose to attend Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York so that I could study with Professor James H. Cone, “the father of Black theology,” in that his writings formally systematizes the religious heritage and positions of African-Americans.  Additionally, Professor Albert Raboteau’s enduring book, Slave Religion, catalogues the distinct way in which American slaves interpreted Christianity despite the religion that the slaves masters in conjunction with the White clergy tried to force feed them.  Appropriating the immortal stories of the Israelites and the Exodus, slaves did not believe that God meant for them to be in bondage.  Their relationships with Christ necessitated their freedom, spiritually and mentally.  In time, they expected it physically.  Even secular historians agree that slaves undoubtedly prayed for the day of emancipation.  When I look upon my past, as a descendant of slaves perhaps only five generations removed from the horrors of that “peculiar institution,” I do not dwell upon the degradation, commoditization and subjugation that my forebears experienced.  Instead, I mine the historical past for the gems of their creative expression of faith in God and their determination to be free.  In so doing, I find spiritual empowerment to face life’s daily challenges with a similar Christian maturity.

Recent Thoughts on The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History Part III

Recent Thoughts on 

The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History

Part III

We live in a world with a twenty-four news cycle.  Sound bites dominate public discourse, most regrettably.  The cable news channels air myriad programs with celebrity announcers and guests who constantly and rudely interrupt each other.  Not surprisingly, very few, perhaps less than one percent, of the topics that are discussed are ever put in any historical context.  Major public policy makers and governmental officials attempt to resolve substantial societal challenges without any consideration of the underlying etiology of these political, social, economic and religious issues.  Unfortunately, armchair analysis and decision-making are the rotten fruit of glitzy cable news.

Four years ago, the U. S. Supreme Court again extended the constitutionality of affirmative action in collegiate and graduate school admissions decisions.  You may recall the numerous and vociferous, even cacophonous, calls for summarily ending this significant social, legislative, economic and academic policy of establishing fundamental fairness in all areas of the American marketplace.  None of the formidable critics of affirmative action bothered to explore the historical origins of the policy.  Further, they did not undertake either a quantitative or qualitative evaluation of this remedy to the longstanding racial discrimination and White supremacists notions that have undergirded historically American legislation, public policy and market trends. 

Several well respected historians and other academicians argue that contrary to popular belief that African-Americans have not been the primary beneficiaries of affirmative actions.  Instead, this initiative enables them to enter the mainstream of U. S. society as it relates to education, employment, enterprise and the emerging mosaic of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.  More significantly, the critics lacked any appreciation for the fact that affirmative action remains a modern iteration of the Reconstruction (1865 to 1877) plan of awarding Black Americans “forty acres and a mule” so that they could compete in commerce as emancipated persons.  How startling that such an important social policy would be eroded with such historical ignorance!

Entry level collegiate and graduate school courses usually begin with a recitation of the “great” achievers, theorists, thinkers and pragmatists in any given field.  You may recall the national, academic debates of the 1980s about the great canon of literature that all learned people should read and study.  Whether one accepts the existence of a canon in every discipline or not, one could reasonably argue that it would comprise a diverse list of authors inclusive of race, ethnicity, sex, creed, religion and national origin.  However, many students of color have to listen to a list that is disproportionately Anglo-American and European.  As a consequence, a potential crisis of monumental psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions ensues for students of color.  They ponder silently, “Have not my people contributed anything meaningful to this field of study?  Are we not great people too?”

Greatness in its many forms emerges fundamentally from a healthy and holistic spirituality.  A strong ego can only manufacture an external appearance of greatness.  Genuine excellence and superlative achievement are the natural outgrowth of divine creativity.  Hence, we hear the celestial inspiration of Duke Ellington, Whitney Houston, Kathleen Battle, Wynston Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey and countless other vocalists and musicians.  Divine imagination extends to fields beyond the fine and performing arts.  Consider the passion of Avon Williams, Sr., Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Carter G. Woodson, George Washington Carver, W. E. B. DuBois and many other historical luminaries within African-Americana who worked with godly energy to create a more just and equal society.  I contend that all of these persons acted from an inner spiritual core in which they accepted the divine approval of their African-American heritage. 

Again, the study of history greatly fosters self-acceptance and in turn self-love as one sees God’s embodiment of His talents, abilities and gifts in one’s forebears.  Realizing that God is not a respecter of persons, one knows that Almighty God has given one a comparable and uniquely suited set of personal gifts. 

Recent Thoughts on The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History - The Conclusion

Recent Thoughts on 

The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History

 The Conclusion

The historical method contains three major steps.  First, one gathers evidence based upon a hypothesis about a certain historical phenomenon.  Second, one evaluates the evidence to determine its worth in substantiating the initial theory.  Embedded within that analysis is an assessment of the legitimacy of the evidence.  Is it fraudulent?  Is it credible given the historical context?  Is the writing genuine or is it the rhetoric of purposeful legend to cloud the bitter truth?  Third, one synthesizes the evidence to find meaning for the persons of a former era and practical application for those of us who live today.

This analytical, critical method formalizes the spiritual discipline of self-evaluation.  Often, when we find ourselves emotionally disturbed by the actions of others and the circumstances of life, an intensive analysis of our thoughts, feelings and responses will greatly aid us in identifying the root of the problem.  Usually, our familiar emotional friends (anger, bitterness, resentment, and strife) drop by for a visit during such trying times.  Their cacophony drowns out the comforting and sustaining voices of meditation and wisdom.  Yet, were one to pull aside from the rapidly spinning merry-go-round of life and be still, one would gain a divine perspective on one’s problems.  Following the steps of the historical method is a most practical and beneficial way of resolving life’s daily challenges.

Additionally, the study of history insists upon a four dimensional analysis: (1) politics, (2) economics, (3) sociology and (4) theology.  These four significant perspectives capture humankind’s attempt to find meaning in life regardless of the historical era, geographical location or racial and cultural nuances.  Contemporarily, clarity about one’s ideology, use of one’s financial resources, relationships with and obligations to people and one relationship to Almighty God is equally important to the quest for determining one’s purpose in life.  However, more than an academic exercise in the discipline of history, defining these four critical components of one’s worldview is a spiritual experience. 

Compartmentalizing our faith from our politics is one of the current fallacies in the Church today.  Some believers vote for candidates whose philosophies and actions are diametrically opposite our biblical and theological beliefs.  Superfluously, we separate the worlds in which we live.  We identify ourselves as a member of a political party during election season.  While at Church, we strongly proclaim our beliefs in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of the Bible.  In exhorting us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, the Lord directs us to align our faith and worldview.  Parenthetically, I hasten to add that striving for intellectual coherence and practical consistency in this vein need not necessitate moral absolutism.  Pragmatism can be principled in many instances.  What is most crucial is spiritual progress toward a way of life that honors the Lord and obeys His Word.

The Bible contains more 2650 verses relating to purpose and use of money.  We cannot serve God and mammon.  We will love one and hate the other.  The Lord knows the temptation toward self-reliance and egotism that lots of money holds for the average person.  Accordingly, He urges us to develop a concept of faithful stewardship in which we humbly acknowledge that He owns everything and that we merely manage the resources with which He blesses us.  It stands to reason that we use our resources to obey The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) and The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).

The second half of The Great Commandment instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  The burgeoning global village makes neighbors of all people in the world.  The Iraq conflict looms large in the mental horizon of most U. S. citizens.  Have we taken the time to learn anything about the people with whom we are joined militarily?  How do we understand the people of Iran and their provocative leader?  The horrible situation in Darfur captivates our hearts and demands our finances and activism.  The twelve million Mexicans who cross the southern U. S. border in hopes of making a better life for their families are our neighbors.  They are the people about whom the Lord speaks in the immortal parable of The Good Samaritan.  Will we risk, finding the strength of our faith, and live on the right side of history in the present by advocating reasonable immigration reform that esteems these people as children of God? 

Inevitably, our worldview, stewardship relating to money and treatment of other people emerge from our understanding and relationship with Almighty God.  God must possess four non-negotiable attributes in order to be the Sovereign Creator and Lord of the universe: omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence and omnipresence.  If God were limited in any way, He would not be a divine being worthy of worship and unequivocal devotion.  Nevertheless, the Bible substantiates those characteristics of God and further reveals Him as the Father of all people.  In order to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, we must be willing to love others with the same fervor with which we claim to love God.  “A tree is known by its fruit.”  Consequentially, love is as love does.  We demonstrate our love of God by meeting the practical needs of others.  This effort requires that we parallel our spiritual rhetoric with daily reality in the distribution of our resources, politics and relationship with others.

The study of history is most fascinating in and of itself.  I derive the same pleasure from reading a good history monograph that others have when reading good fictional literature.  However, I am most pleased to posit that studying history possesses some inherent spiritual dimensions which empower us to grow closer to our Lord.