More Than Dates and Dead People: Recovering a Christian View of History [Paperback]

Stephen Mansfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2000

Most students hate history classes and this is odd when one considers that people today seem to be more interested in history than ever. People travel to historical sites during family vacations, and best-seller lists are filled with books on history and historical fiction. Furthermore, some of the most popular films of recent years have been about history: Titanic, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan. More Than Dates and Dead People is an upbeat, edgy look at history as something exciting rather than a boring list of dates to memorise. It views history as something fun to study because it is about people: how they live, what they believe, what they do, ideas that uplift and others that enslave. According to Stephen Mansfield, the difference is in the world-view of the beholder. Materialism, which essentially is the philosophy behind how history is viewed today in many educational settings, believes that the future is blank and that man is pushed forward by the past. Theism, on the other hand, believes that God first decided what the end - the destiny of history - would be. Thus, having decided the future first, beginning with creation, He began to draw manking through the ages to a final destiny. It is God's future that gives history its driving force and its meaning. The difference between these two world-views is everything, and in More Than Dates and Dead People the author works out what this means and why in a biblical world-view. History is no more the story of blind men groping toward a dark and fearful future. Instead, it becomes the unfolding of a future that God decided before creation, providing hope for all and making history a wild ride that never gets out of God's control.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

STEPHEN MANSFIELD PhD is a teacher, administrator, counsellor, author, and pastor. He also is the author of dozens of articles and essays, three book-length monographs, and three highly acclaimed books including Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (September 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581821182
• ISBN-13: 978-1581821185
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,044,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Historical Study > Reference

More About the Author

Stephen Mansfield is the New York Times bestselling author of The Faith of George W. Bush, The Faith of the American Soldier, Benedict XVI: His Life and Mission, and Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill, among other works of history, biography and contemporary culture. His interest in First Amendment religion issues arises from his decades of work among American churches and his efforts on behalf of religious liberty in the Middle East. Stephen lives in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Beverly. For more information, log onto www.mansfieldgroup.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!, July 14, 2007

By 

Allison Earle (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: More Than Dates and Dead People: Recovering a Christian View of History (Paperback)

This is my favorite introduction to the study of history. This concise book is required summer reading for my homeschool academy humanities students. It is well written - easily digestible & interesting, generously seasoned with humor. The first sentence is an immediate hook. I cannot recommend this excellent book highly enough.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discovering the love of history, August 14, 2007

By 

Julia Gwin (Texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: More Than Dates and Dead People: Recovering a Christian View of History (Paperback)

I hated history in school, but now I understand why this was so! History was taught to me from the evolutionary, secular humanist mindset, and thus it could have no purpose, plan or meaning. I thoroughly enjoy history now, because I have been freed to see that all history, even our own seemingly inconsequential little lives, can have enormous influence.

Even if you are not Christian, Mr. Mansfield's method of dissecting history is spot on: you only need to understand 5 arenas as you examine the people and times of the past: 1) religion; 2) culture; 3) Law; 4) education; and 5) art.

What is religion? It is "ultimate concern." It is that to which men willingly give their lives, what occupies their thoughts, their money and their time. No society or individual is free from it, including Richard Dawkins.

What is culture? According to Mansfield, culture is "religion externalized." Differences between cultures are simply the expression of ultimate concerns that permeate a society. Understanding different cultures requires looking at the next three aspects (law, education and art).

What is law? It is a culture's attempt to set standards of moral behavior, to deal with matters of truth, fairness, and justice. I must quote Mansfield here: "You will sometimes hear people say, 'You can't legislate morality.' This isn't true, though. In fact, morality is all you can legislate. For example, why don't we have laws that require pink flowers in all second-story windows boxes? These laws sound silly, don't they? And the reason they sound silly is that they have nothing to do with morality, with right and wrong. That's why we have laws that deal with murder, stealing, personal assault, and discrimination. These are issues of truth, fairness - what is right. They are issues of religious truth [ultimate concern]."

"This also explains why laws vary so widely between countries of the world. In some countries with an Islamic heritage, it is permissible to chop off the hand of a thief. This is because of the teaching of the Koran. In some countries, a woman has no rights to speak of, and this is, again, because of the religious system that shapes the legal system....All of these laws sound strange to us because we have a different religious system behind our laws and a different understanding of what is true, what is right, and what is fair."

What is education? It is the transmission of ultimate concern from one generation to the next.

What is art? Religion or "ultimate concern" symbolized (in art, music, film, literature, etc.). Art communicates the hopes, dreams and beliefs of a people.

Isn't that a handy way to categorize history? Truly it is "more than dates and dead people!"

Mansfield gives a helpful list of resources at the end of his book to help the reader get started. He includes books, magazines, films, organizations, etc.

Excellent little book. Very engaging.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!, September 23, 2011

By 

David S. Horton (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: More Than Dates and Dead People: Recovering a Christian View of History (Paperback)

I am quite the history buff, however, setting that aside I am very pleased with this purchase. I liked the book so much I made it required reading for my kids. We can never know to much about history, as it is how we base the decisions we make for the future. Without looking to the past, how can we expect not to repeat failures. This isn't a comprehensive history book, but one that is geared to identifying the massive importance of being at least a mid-level student of history. You will not regret the purchase.