Why study history ?

Probably one of the best reasons for studying history is so one does not get burned. Wise people learn from other people's mistakes. People can avoid getting burned by reading how others got burned and hopefully learn how to prevent the same thing happening to them. Dr. Lewis Spitz in his book THE RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION MOVEMENTS mentioned an English educator named Robert Ascham (1515-1568) Ascham argued that one can learn vicariously in one year by education instead of 20 years by experience. An example of living vicariously would be reading the journal or memoir of a historical figure. What Ascham wrote concerning education is especially true of history, which should be a part of one's education. Yes, experience may be the best teacher. But why go through years of trial and error if one can learn from studying the successes and mistakes of others? In other words, why reinvent the wheel? Or why repeat the same mistakes of others? When the framers of the Constitution wrote their document, they studied what worked and what failed in the governance of nations.

History can give one great insight into human nature and relationships i.e. the horizontal aspect of life. While names and dates are important, the personalities and motivations of people are even more interesting. Why do characters in history act contrary to expectation? Why did the pope support the Protestant King William over the Roman Catholic King James II regarding control of England? History oftentimes reads like a television soap opera. It is unfortunate that the study of history is oftentimes reduced to a boring recitation and regurgitation of the facts. This is not to say that one should ignore the faith or vertical aspect of life. For one does need wisdom and the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs, Chapter 1 verse 7). The faith aspect and asking God for wisdom (James chapter 1 verse 5) certainly does count. And a study of history does not preclude the vertical aspect. In some instances one can see the providential hand at work in the events and lives of peoples and nations. Just think of the storm outside Boston harbor which helped secure the city for the colonists during the Revolutionary War. What about the storm which destroyed the Spanish Armada saving England from invasion? Or what about the storm which saved the Japan from a Mongol invasion? If those storms had not occurred the United States may never have been born or England would not have become an empire and Japan could have been absorbed into Kublai Khan's empire.

The study of history does indeed include the vertical for it contains the three eternal question: 1)Where did I come from? 2) Why am I here? 3)here am I going?

These questions apply on an individual level since we al have to do our own living and dying. But these questions can also be applied in a group context: e.g. family, tribe and nation. This question can be asked of other types of groups such as a church or social gathering. Getting back to the history as soap opera analogy one should ask one's self who is the director? And how does one get direction from the director?

Learn more about this author, Guy Takamatsu.
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