History in the making: An introduction to the study of the past

To Understand the past all we need to do is read the record of what happened. Right? Wrong.

That record is often incomplete, inaccurate, embarrassingly voluminous or obscure. Thus we need historians to evaluate, select and explain. Our picture of the past is filtered by historians; their judgement of what is true and significant profoundly influences the history books we read.

Since historians - and everyone else - view the past from some perspective, the question naturally arises: How should Christians view history? Roy Swanstrom introduces us to the relationship between history and the Christian faith. He asks key questions: What are the alternative ways of looking at the past? How does the Bible portray history? Does Christianity contribute to an understanding of history and and, conversely, does a knowledge of history contribute to the Christian life? Does God intervene in history?

Professor Swanstrom (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) is a professor of history at Seattle Pacific University.

I have made it required reading for students in my Introduction to Historiography, for I wish them to have a Christian perspective on this subject.>>>> (James E. McGoldrick Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

Professor Swanstrom has combined a thorough knowledge of his field with a vibrant Christian outlook to produce a work of this quality.>>>> (Robert G. Clouse Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

...the best college-level introduction to historical study written from a specifically evangelical standpoint.>>>> (Robert G. Clouse Stephen R. Smiley)

...the author...has composed a refreshing defence of the importance of a critical understanding of the past for the Christian faith. Principals of theological colleges contemplating dropping church history from the syllabus please note!>>>> (Robert G. Clouse The Evangelical Quarterly)

...a clearly written introduction to the study of history. Swanstrom has a conversational writing style that makes the book highly readable and easy to understand. Given the particular audience for which the book was written, evangelical educators andhistory instructors in Christian senior high schools and colleges should find that the chapters will generate a lively discussion in the classroom.>>> (Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

...a clearly written introduction to the study of history. Swanstrom has a conversational writing style that makes the book highly readable and easy to understand. Given the particular audience for which the book was written, evangelical educators and history instructors in Christian senior high schools and colleges should find that the chapters will generate a lively discussion in the classroom. (Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

I have made it required reading for students in my Introduction to Historiography, for I wish them to have a Christian perspective on this subject. (James E. McGoldrick Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

Professor Swanstrom has combined a thorough knowledge of his field with a vibrant Christian outlook to produce a work of this quality. (Robert G. Clouse Teaching History: A Journal Of Methods)

...the best college-level introduction to historical study written from a specifically evangelical standpoint. (Robert G. Clouse Stephen R. Smiley)

...the author...has composed a refreshing defence of the importance of a critical understanding of the past for the Christian faith. Principals of theological colleges contemplating dropping church history from the syllabus please note! (Robert G. Clouse The Evangelical Quarterly)