Christianity and the Historian
All Christian students face difficulties concerning their subject, and the Christian historian faces a number of problems peculiar to her/his subject in reconciling faith and academic study. Some of these questions are fundamental to our study of history; anyone interested in a theoretical discussion of the linkage of Christianity and history should read “Christianity and History” by Herbert Butterfield, who was a Methodist lay-preacher as well as a distinguished historian.
In this article, however, I propose to discuss some of the more practical elements of the conflict as met by a student in the history department here at York. It can be very difficult to be the only Christian in a seminar group discussing religious history, as I myself experienced most seriously when taking a comparative special course on Christian Missions. Previously, when approaching religious history in a seminar, I had tended to avoid identifying myself as a Christian, simply because I felt unable to cope with that kind of pressure. However, the term before, I had re-evaluated the way I was applying my Christian beliefs to my historical study, and in fact the nature of the course, and the presumptions of the other participants meant that I had to be much more open than I had been in the past. I think it was the right thing to do, but I did find the whole ternm incredibly stressful, and each seminar felt like a pitched battle in which I was totally isolated. The material we studied I often found very valuable on both a historical and a Christian level, and in that sense the course represented the way in which the Christian can combine a history degree with growing in faith. However my own experiences lead me to warn Christians against taking this course, unless they are going to have the support of at least one other Christian, or unless they are naturally combative.
I found a great source of support during that term (in fact, I seriously doubt whether I could have survived the course without it) from the history prayer meeting. This consists of a group of Christians who study history, meeting weekly to pray for each other and the department generally. Anyone interested in attending should consult the college UNBs; I have found it very helpful, and feel that it is more than worth the time it takes.
Another problem faced by the Christian historian is the attitude of tutors. In some ways this is less difficult, but it is all too easy to fall to the temptation of carefully avoiding to mention that you are a Christian, and thereby distancing your faith from your academic work, and yourself from Christ. I now feel very strongly that this is wrong, but as someone who did practice that distancing in the past, I know how difficult it can be to change. I had to make a conscious decision that I would be more open about my faith; perhaps I would have found last term easier if I had not made that decision, but I feel that it was the right one, and, partly due to all the prayer which was essential, I feel I have been brought closer to God. I realise the difficulties involved — I have experienced them myself — but I would urge all Christian historians who haven’t yet examined their attitudes towards history and its connection with their Christianity, to do so, as, despite the very real stress, difficulty and conflict involved, it is in the long run extremely rewarding.