Why Christians Should Engage in the Ancient History Conversation

The Growing Interest in Ancient History

There is a massive opportunity for Christians to share a biblical perspective on ancient history. Many people today are fascinated by the past, as seen in the popularity of podcasts and YouTube channels on ancient civilizations.

For example, Joe Rogan, one of the most influential podcasters, frequently discusses ancient history. While he covers many topics, his interest in ancient civilizations should catch our attention. If millions of people are engaging with this content, Christians should step into the conversation with a biblical perspective.

Two Dominant Views of Ancient History

Most popular discussions on ancient history fit into two dominant paradigms.

The Atoms Paradigm

This view explains history purely through naturalistic and material causes. It focuses on things like geography, diseases, and environmental factors. While these elements play a role, this closed-system approach leaves no room for God. It assumes history is purely the product of natural forces, which can make it feel dry and uninspiring.

The Aliens Paradigm

This view speculates that extraterrestrials played a role in shaping ancient civilizations. It often reinterprets biblical references to angels and supernatural beings through the lens of alien intervention. Though it acknowledges mystery in history, it remains a closed-system view, rejecting divine revelation and the authority of Scripture.

Both perspectives dominate modern discussions of ancient history, but they exclude God from the picture.

The Need for a Biblical Perspective

Christians have a rich tradition of interpreting history through a biblical lens. Augustine’s City of God Book 18 provides an early example, as he sought to harmonize biblical history with known historical records from Rome, Greece, and Babylon.

The Bible provides a trustworthy historical account. Jesus himself affirmed the historical truth of the Old Testament (Luke 24:27). Yet, few Christian voices engage in the broader cultural discussion about ancient history.

How Christians Can Get Involved

If you are a Christian with a passion for ancient history, consider sharing your insights. The world is hungry for historical perspectives, and a biblical view offers something unique.

One way to contribute is through the Bible Answers Project, where common questions about Scripture and history are explored.

Now is the time to reclaim the historical conversation. Will you be a part of it?

Note: Generative AI was used in creating this post. First, I made an audio recording of what I wanted to say. Then, I transcribed the audio using TurboScribe.ai. Finally, I transformed the transcript into a blog post using ChatGPT.