One of the challenges a historian faces is how history
should be studied. The biggest obstacle someone faces when looking at the past
is avoiding a biased interpretation. Different historians have different
interpretations of the past. This does not necessarily mean that only one of
the historian’s interpretations is correct, it only means that they each see
the past in different ways. For someone
hoping to become a historian, one of their first mistakes is believing that
they need to have some sort of historical philosophy before they begin their
research. By having a preset agenda, a historian is more likely to provide a
biased interpretation. In order to study history, all historians must leave any
of their personal biases out of their interpretation. History is the study of
the past and not the study of the past through the filter of the present. A
historian needs to acknowledge that they have certain biases in order to
prevent skewing history.
As a Christian, I believe that in order to provide an unbiased
interpretation of history, I need to look at history with a Biblical worldview.
Every part of the past is history. As a believer, the creation of the world is
a historical act as well as the creation of man. Unlike man, God’s laws are
absolute. Different historians have different views on different historical
figures. By using God’s law, I can study history without using my own views of
right or wrong. Whether a person’s acts are right or wrong is not based on my
personal views of right or wrong, but rather through God’s view of right or
wrong. By doing this, I avoid creating skewed views of historical figures, and
do what all historians should do, study the past with an unbiased interpretation.
