Customer Reviews

Streams of Civilization Vol. 2: Cultures in Conflict Since the Reformation

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One of the few world history texts that combines a biblical worldview, creation science, and church history; it gives a solid overview of civilization. It has fair inclusion of both creationist and evolutionist theory of beginnings. The authors treat the Bible as one reliable historical document to be included among all the rest. This is an EXCELLENT introduction to western civilization, interesting, clear and full of opportunities for discussion. Major world cultures, religions, and their development are explained with the aid of maps, timelines, and graphics. This material provides information for classroom conversation which will in turn help the students to process, apply, and remember what they are reading. Take it further and enhance the students' learning with biographies, films, picture books, and historical fiction novels.

I wrote this in answer to the two negative responses, which apparently were written by two who seem to have an anti-religious bias. This book is well written. I have read many texts citing secular and catholic contributions, but have noticed a dearth of reformed influences, which this text corrects. As for the 20th century coverage, it is outstanding. So often the most radical leftist activists are given extensive coverage, neglecting imporant history - examples: the Korean war, Christian responses to secularism, the scourge of communism and gulags. This book gives good coverage to all the above, while maintaing the milestones that constitute the 20th century.

I appreciate that this book has been easy to use for my 8th-10th grade children. It is well laid out, interesting, and (importantly, to me) non revisionist. It does not paint Che as a hero/revolutionary, nor Mao as someone misunderstood. It does include religion and Christianity in the context of history, as any book should. Christianity and History are irrevocably intertwined.

Anyone who insists that topics like the Civil War are too briefly touched upon, may I remind them that this textbook covers European and American culture since the reformation in 425 pages; including charts, maps, photos,etc. The civil war is, however, covered on pages 90,160,172,221,271,273 and 408. I might have missed some. This is a student textbook. As is the case in a high school course, the overview is all that is really covered while going truly in depth is reserved for advanced studies. There is a lot to cover in History from the time kids are old enough to grasp the complexities to any real degree to the time they graduate. Please keep your reviews on a textbook for 13-18 year old high school students grounded in that understanding. Of course there will be some amount of detail glossed over on each and every topic.

I would recommend this book. I was particularly appreciative of the coverage of people like Washington Gladden (the "father" of christian socialism) who emphasized social action rather than belief as a means of following Jesus. It is very interesting and relevant to the course of History.

Streams of Civilization Volume 2: Cultures in Conflict Since the Reformation, details the conflicts in world view within the countries of major economic and expansion importance. These conflicts lead to differences in the means of dealing with them. The results of those different means of dealing with the realities of their lives, lead to the success or demise of their country's influence on the world. Many lessons are to be learned from assessing and analyzing the thoughts of a society. Love this book! Great background for me to understand and help my young child begin her appreciation for history and how it is relevant to today. Afterall, history does repeat itself!

Okay, okay. Yeah, great resource-- full of good information; Beats your status-quo antichristian antiamerican stark-ravin-liberal history text any day. But is that really enough?!!! Christian Liberty Press demonstrates a better perspective on history than publically funded propaganda. But what ever happened to "unbiased"? Why can't we just tell it like it is without throwing a little "non-denominational" coloring in the mix?

Yes, I thought the narrative was informative and engaging -- 5 stars on that count. But I just couldn't ignore several major issues. The publishers state in the foreword (or the introduction-- I don't recall which) of Volume 1 that they feel it the personal responsibility of every Christian to propagate a Biblical perspective on history. Of course, theirs is the only "Biblical" perspective. Maybe it would have been slightly less offensive if I agreed with every jot and tittle of their theology. But I am not alone in my disagreement. (Nor am I a Baptist.)

For one, the course notably discounts Baptist origins in its broad coverage of *important* religious groups and denominations. Why? Because Baptists historically originated from pacifist anabaptist groups, which did not fight bloody religious wars. This failure to contribute to the rise of Christian Utopia made them historically negligible.

This, of course, is just one effect of the broader "dominion" doctrine-- a fancy name for Christian imperialism. Yes, it would seem that it is our responsibility as Christians to take over the world. We can't leave ruling the world to the infidels. In fact, Jesus won't return until we have established God's Kingdom on earth and instituted Christian culture in every corner. By the way: What is Christian culture?...

Well, this kind of exclusionary bias is present throughout the book, casting its shadow on the facts at every turn of history. Why must we call the American Revolution the "War for Independance"? Even the American Civil War is openly slighted; The puzzlingly brief coverage, accompanied by subfusc ambiguities, leaves the reader wondering "Are they suggesting that the South was right???"

So if you appreciate the taste of malicious sectarian bias-- political or theological-- this book is for you. But I personally wouldn't recommend letting your kids read it without some good discussion of these issues. Baptist or not.

2Tim 3:13 "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse..." Mat 24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Jhn 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world..."

Or so this particular masterwork would have one believe. A rather dry slog, and yet it metes out more than its fair share of c/overt propaganda, including my particular favorite, which has the Enlightenment in scare quotes. Sorry, Misters Franklin, Hume, Jefferson, Locke, Newton, Kant, Rouseeau, Spinoza, but boy oh boy were you deluded.

History told slant, with a decidedly Christian bias. The Bible is accepted as a factual historical source, and while divergent theories are allowed to exist, this beauty sides always with the Good Book, without acknowledging the scholarship suggesting that literality may not be the best (or even a possible) interpretation of its hallowed text.

As an alumna of this choice bit of propaganda, I can say that in my case, it backfired.