Christian History and Thanksgiving

I write this in hope of discovering more reasons to celebrate our blessed history here in America. I'm interested in your comments.

There are many books, I suppose, written about the early days of America, the founding fathers, the faith of the founders, the Puritan influence on life in the colonies, etc. Some are written by Secular writers - with their deliberate biases; others are written by Christian authors with their agendas. And while I appreciate the desire to "set the record straight", who really does it best?

Sometimes, I suspect Secular writers Do their homework and document it well … but popular opinion rules over (and skews) their conclusions.

Leaving out historical facts because you don't approve does not make for good history. Do all writers document only the facts they approve of?

I am sometimes disappointed by Christian writers who communicate undocumented "folk-legends". This doesn't do it for me either. I do appreciate apologetic writings, but records of HISTORY need to deal with all the facts and process all the evidence well. Any introduction of anachronisms or any omissions of evidence misrepresents the history I would like to celebrate. [I am not impressed by people who may not present many facts but sure shout Amen loud enough to drown out everybody else.]

What LOGOS resources best depict these early times? Who do you turn to for expertise on these matters. I am curious to hear from others who struggle in this area. I love this Nation and want to know the truth about our beginnings: First Thanksgiving? / Puritan Testimony? / Founding Fathers (of the Faith?)?

Maybe you have some suggestions for new resources too.

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Comments

tom

Hi Ron,

First, I personally do not know of any resources in Logos that fills your requirement.

This doesn't do it for me either. I do appreciate apologetic writings, but records of HISTORY need to deal with all the facts and process all the evidence well.

I totally agree with you.

This being said, I will also add that Christian books are not the only books that leave out a lot of the facts. Secular writings also leave out many facts. For an example, let us look at the folklore concerning Christopher Columbus. How many books about Christopher Columbus have you read talked about Columbus' atrocities? Or how he kidnapped people? Or the fact that he was not even the first European to "discover America"?

Because of this, I am thinking you are asking too much from Logos' resources. All resources leave out many facts, it all depends on the author's point of view of what facts are told and what facts are left out.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/546780#Comment_546780

The Christian History Library

WallBuilders American Foundations Digital Library

I don't know if these resources are what you are looking for. They are the closest things I know of in Logos.

MJ. Smith

records of HISTORY need to deal with all the facts and process all the evidence well.

I don't think this is possible ... most of the written records from which history is drawn have their own agendas in selecting and shaping the facts. May I suggest a book that should be in Logos David Hackett Fischer's Historians' Fallacies: Towards a Logic of Historical Thought. As a descendent of Rebecca Nurse/Norse (Salem witch) and Ann Marbury Hutchinson (run out of Boston Bay) I have my own opinion as to the "real" history of early America.[:#]

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/546910#Comment_546910

M.J. My 11th great-grandfather lost his head and was quartered in the Tower of London by Queen Bloody Mary. That said, after looking at both sides of history I believe it's possible in most cases to arrive at the truth if one carefully does his homework.

I have been examining the quotes of the Founding Fathers for several years, and finally came to the conclusion only one should be labeled a Deist.

Rosie Perera

Here's an account by the keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of governor William Bradford, of the Pilgrims' arrival to "a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wilde beasts and wilde men":

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB122765706006858171

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/546910#Comment_546910

I don't think this is possible ... most of the written records from which history is drawn have their own agendas in selecting and shaping the facts.

And I will add that we have our own agendas and biases that will color the way we see the facts. Hence, when people look for the 'actual historical Jesus,' people typically find themselves/their biases in the 'actual historical Jesus.'

Ron Corbett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/546964#Comment_546964

MJ,

I appreciate what you are saying and you are right. In the ideal sense, it is an enormous task to get any history "right". What I am saying is that given the best information we have (which is less than ideal), that modern writers try to do the best they can instead of sifting through material to give us their biases: i.e.- America was NOT founded on Christian principles OR America WAS founded upon Christian principles - and in the process, give us only the information that supports their view. I am wondering if anyone has an opinion as to what authors are acting with the most integrity in their treatments. Agreed the victors of the wars get to write the history and from my perspective the war for the bragging rights over early American heritage is on (has been on). I get so tired of those so - called documentary shows that purport to give us "history" when all the audience is getting is "spin", [Be it archaeology, anthropology, the cosmos, history, theological matters, etc.] I am against "spin" from either side.

But I have read a number of modern authors who seem to handle controversial matters with great care and I believe that those of us who follow the Lord have a responsibility to do our best in these areas. We need well written resources, we need to go on record in all of these vital world-shaping matters, we need do do it right and we need to select and promote those resources that are going to help us to adequately inform the next generation.