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Hijacking History: How the Christian Right Teaches History and Why It Matters
The teaching of history has long been the subject of partisan warfare. Religion often plays a prominent role in these debates, as secular progressives and conservative Christians disagree over which historical figures are worthy of study, how (or whether) certain events should be portrayed, and ultimately how tax dollars should be spent. But what about students who are educated outside the public schools, either in religious schools or at home? How are they learning history, and what effect does that have on our democracy?
Hijacking History analyzes the high school world history textbooks produced by the three most influential publishers of Christian educational materials. In these books, the historian, informed by his faith, tells the allegedly unbiased story of God's actions as interpreted through the Bible. History becomes a weapon to judge and condemn civilizations that do not accept the true God or adopt "biblical" positions. In their treatment of the modern world, these texts identify ungodly ideas to be vanquished-evolution, humanism, biblical modernism, socialism, and climate science among them.
The judgments found in these textbooks, Kathleen Wellman shows, are rooted in the history of American evangelicals and fundamentalists and the battles they fought against the tide of secularism. In assuming that God sanctions fundamentalist positions on social, political, and economic issues, students are led to believe that that the ultimate mission of America is to succeed as a nation that advances evangelical Christianity and capitalism throughout the world. The Christianity presented in these textbooks is proselytizing, intolerant of other religions and non-evangelical Christians, and unquestionably anchored to the political right.
As Hijacking History argues, the ideas these textbooks promote have significant implications for contemporary debates about religion, politics, and education, and pose a direct challenge to the values of a pluralistic democracy.
Hijacking History analyzes the high school world history textbooks produced by the three most influential publishers of Christian educational materials. In these books, the historian, informed by his faith, tells the allegedly unbiased story of God's actions as interpreted through the Bible. History becomes a weapon to judge and condemn civilizations that do not accept the true God or adopt "biblical" positions. In their treatment of the modern world, these texts identify ungodly ideas to be vanquished-evolution, humanism, biblical modernism, socialism, and climate science among them.
The judgments found in these textbooks, Kathleen Wellman shows, are rooted in the history of American evangelicals and fundamentalists and the battles they fought against the tide of secularism. In assuming that God sanctions fundamentalist positions on social, political, and economic issues, students are led to believe that that the ultimate mission of America is to succeed as a nation that advances evangelical Christianity and capitalism throughout the world. The Christianity presented in these textbooks is proselytizing, intolerant of other religions and non-evangelical Christians, and unquestionably anchored to the political right.
As Hijacking History argues, the ideas these textbooks promote have significant implications for contemporary debates about religion, politics, and education, and pose a direct challenge to the values of a pluralistic democracy.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 29, 2021
Insightful look at conservative histories
I do not completely agree with the author on some things. For example, I do not believe the theory of evolution and it's counterparts needs to be part of a history book. Those are scientific issues and should be left there. However, this book does an excellent job of evaluating several homeschool and private school high school curriculums. It puts into words things that I had already noticed but had not been able to explain. History can be used to promote ones worldview. The curriculum that is evaluated is promoting a conservative, and at times somewhat contradictory view of history where God is the primary actor, sin is the cause of all problems, and capitalism is God-ordained.
My critique would be that at times the evaluation and the comparison of a what critical historians would say is not clearly marked. That may be because I was reading the kindle version and not a hard copy.
I would recommend this book for anyone teaching history to understand what these curriculums are teaching and to more critically evaluate what they teach in their classrooms,
I do not completely agree with the author on some things. For example, I do not believe the theory of evolution and it's counterparts needs to be part of a history book. Those are scientific issues and should be left there. However, this book does an excellent job of evaluating several homeschool and private school high school curriculums. It puts into words things that I had already noticed but had not been able to explain. History can be used to promote ones worldview. The curriculum that is evaluated is promoting a conservative, and at times somewhat contradictory view of history where God is the primary actor, sin is the cause of all problems, and capitalism is God-ordained.
My critique would be that at times the evaluation and the comparison of a what critical historians would say is not clearly marked. That may be because I was reading the kindle version and not a hard copy.
I would recommend this book for anyone teaching history to understand what these curriculums are teaching and to more critically evaluate what they teach in their classrooms,
August 13, 2024
The author examines three Christian educational publishing houses and their material for primarily high school history courses. These three publishers produce almost all of the material used by Christian homeschoolers and by private, conservative, Protestant schools. A few million children use this material every year.
Wellman does not look at the textbooks that discuss science, which would also be interesting. She only examines textbooks and teaching material concerning world history and US history. The results are concerning to say the least!
The telling of history varies according to what the authors choose to tell, interpretation of the history, and simply getting the facts right (i.e., accuracy). All historians will have some disagreements over which events, people, and so forth should be emphasized in the telling of history. Historians will disagree over the interpretations of the events. Certainly, major people and events need to be included, and adding very minor events and people needs to be justified in some manner. This can be done, and some legitimate historians will do so. Interpretations do need to fit the facts! The historian cannot simply throw in their ideologies and ignore the facts. And finally, any legitimate historian must stick to the facts of history - you cannot just make stuff up.
These histories seem to fail on all three accounts. Minor events and people are frequently thrown in and major events are minimized with little to no reason given. Interpretations often do not meet the requirement of fitting the facts, but reflect the publishers needs to promote a certain Christian viewpoint. (I should add that these publishers promote Christian Nationalism or Christian Dominionism, the idea that Christians should rule in the nation.) Sometimes, the publishers simply change the "facts" when they don't suit their view of the world.
It is sad and frightening as some of these students may become future leaders.
Wellman does not look at the textbooks that discuss science, which would also be interesting. She only examines textbooks and teaching material concerning world history and US history. The results are concerning to say the least!
The telling of history varies according to what the authors choose to tell, interpretation of the history, and simply getting the facts right (i.e., accuracy). All historians will have some disagreements over which events, people, and so forth should be emphasized in the telling of history. Historians will disagree over the interpretations of the events. Certainly, major people and events need to be included, and adding very minor events and people needs to be justified in some manner. This can be done, and some legitimate historians will do so. Interpretations do need to fit the facts! The historian cannot simply throw in their ideologies and ignore the facts. And finally, any legitimate historian must stick to the facts of history - you cannot just make stuff up.
These histories seem to fail on all three accounts. Minor events and people are frequently thrown in and major events are minimized with little to no reason given. Interpretations often do not meet the requirement of fitting the facts, but reflect the publishers needs to promote a certain Christian viewpoint. (I should add that these publishers promote Christian Nationalism or Christian Dominionism, the idea that Christians should rule in the nation.) Sometimes, the publishers simply change the "facts" when they don't suit their view of the world.
It is sad and frightening as some of these students may become future leaders.
June 13, 2022
I grew up in Christian schools, went to a Christian college, and taught in Christian schools for a number of years. I am still an evangelical, and most would consider me a theologically conservative one.
The author summarizes very accurately how various Christian school curriculums portray history. It's absolutely atrocious. She also calls out modern conservatives for conserving relatively new positions while jettisoning antenicene traditions which were integral to the church. From someone steeped in this culture, I can vouch her analysis of what it teaches.
My big pushback would be that there are a few moments in the book where the author seems naive to her own position. She would never say this, but the way she talks makes clear that she thinks that a liberal background or exposure to academia strip an assessment of subjectivity and bias. There are moments of self-righteousness and naivete of this sort, and I'm always wary of playing ping pong between two polarized positions. Nevertheless, those moments are relatively rare and the information she presents is very good.
The author summarizes very accurately how various Christian school curriculums portray history. It's absolutely atrocious. She also calls out modern conservatives for conserving relatively new positions while jettisoning antenicene traditions which were integral to the church. From someone steeped in this culture, I can vouch her analysis of what it teaches.
My big pushback would be that there are a few moments in the book where the author seems naive to her own position. She would never say this, but the way she talks makes clear that she thinks that a liberal background or exposure to academia strip an assessment of subjectivity and bias. There are moments of self-righteousness and naivete of this sort, and I'm always wary of playing ping pong between two polarized positions. Nevertheless, those moments are relatively rare and the information she presents is very good.
August 17, 2023
Dr. Wellman's book explores alternative version of American history, told through the lens of the major conservative/fundamentalist religious education entities out there--Abeka, Bob Jones U., etc.
There is clearly a danger for such versions of history gaining intellectual currency. As we have seen, such histories tend to eschew normal historical methodology in favor of a highly providential, mythologized history that does not consider contingency or human motivations. You don't question or explore this history, you accept it outright. It is of course tied in with some specific political motivations and presumptions, as Wellman spools out over the book. Hijacking History will serve as a primer for those concerned about this possibility.
In terms of facing this sort of mythologized history, or even combating it, Hijacking History could use more in terms of what exactly the best arguments against it are. Of course most historians and learned history people will know the basics, but the book needs more granular detail. Very much recommend this work.
There is clearly a danger for such versions of history gaining intellectual currency. As we have seen, such histories tend to eschew normal historical methodology in favor of a highly providential, mythologized history that does not consider contingency or human motivations. You don't question or explore this history, you accept it outright. It is of course tied in with some specific political motivations and presumptions, as Wellman spools out over the book. Hijacking History will serve as a primer for those concerned about this possibility.
In terms of facing this sort of mythologized history, or even combating it, Hijacking History could use more in terms of what exactly the best arguments against it are. Of course most historians and learned history people will know the basics, but the book needs more granular detail. Very much recommend this work.
July 10, 2022
Generally pretty good, although some objectively incorrect bits here and there (Such as failing the 'Stop conflating the Taliban with the Mujahideen please' challenge) which did slightly mar points, but they don't impact the general thrust of the book with feels pretty on point.
February 25, 2024
An important book. Provides insights to some of the current political situation in the U.S. I recognize many many of these view/positions but did not know the history.
The book is fairly academic and dry and so it is a bit tough slogging at times.
The book is fairly academic and dry and so it is a bit tough slogging at times.
May 17, 2025
A good analysis - with much better historiographical work than the textbooks it critiques. But I repeatedly wished that Wellman had better recognized that all histories are biased and that cultural and religious viewpoints can (or inevitably will) affect historical and other interpretations.
July 15, 2022
Very interesting and Informative book giving good information on Christian Nationalism and the goals and purposes of the Christian right.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews