BONUS: Resources to Enhance & Expand Your Scribal Understanding

In this section, some additional resources are provided to build upon your understanding of scribal ministry, specifically as it relates to historical revisionism. These resources are excellent for researching and understanding this topic that we were only able to touch upon as we discussed the scribes of old. I have also included a video below that highlights another reason WHY this topic is so important.

Adobe Stock Images. Permission to use.

What is Historical Revisionism?

HISTORICAL REVISIONISM is a term used to describe the professional and necessary practice of reinterpreting the facts and narratives of history based on new evidence. It is referred to as revisionist history and is not considered negative. We need to think of it like this: If something happened in my community all I have are the immediate facts. Sometimes, it takes weeks, months, or years to complete investigations, interviews, etc. to recount what really took place. As a result, the only information I can report or share is what I had at that time. However, when the investigations, interviews, etc. are complete, the account of what occurred can be updated to reflect that new information. In other words, the initial accounts must be revised to create a clearer and broader picture based on new, provable evidence.

Then there is NEGATIONISM.

NEGATIONISM is a perversion of historical revisionism in which certain revisionists attempt to rewrite history to say that certain events never existed, didn't happen or was not as bad as some stories told. So, they create false narratives that go against archaeological evidence, proven documentation, and other artifacts. For example, there is an entire movement that denies the Holocaust ever happened, and another movement to turn the African American Slave Trade into the "Great African Migration."

While many people disagree with me on this topic, I am adamant that certain structures be preserved, not destroyed even though they represent the worst of humanity. For example, the destruction of plantations here in the Deep South of the United States, the destruction of monuments and flags. While these things should not be celebrated, as I see it, they should be presented as historical artifacts, evidence, and memorials to "the truth" of what they represent. My view here is SOLELY based on the eye of a historian. By all means, you may disagree, however, the point here is simply to prove history.

When discussing the two mantles of the scribe, this subject was a part of the introduction to that topic nearly a decade ago. I have been studying negationism and its relationship to the scribal ministry for nearly 15 years. Why? Well, because the prophetic church does a VERY POOR JOB OF PRESERVING ITS OWN HISTORIES - especially as it relates to marginalized groups, movements in the marginalized communities of the congregation, and tracking the profound contributions of marginalized group to the charismatic, non-denominational faith. For example, there is an entire movement in the deaf community with pioneers leading deaf, prophetic churches, and arts groups.

While revisionism is an inherent part of historiography since “good” historians try to avoid bias and report facts from an evidence perspective, the negationist's point of view is an extreme case of revisionism where facts are chosen to NEGATE historical evidence. Because of this, The School of the Scribe pushes communities to preserve as many historical artifacts from as many different sources as possible as a historical legacy within one's own PROVABLE EXPERIENCE to legal documentation, photographs, objects, interviews, etc.

Revisionist history can be useful in the academic world as well as the sociopolitical realm, but revisionism doesn’t always have to underscore something nefarious like the Holocaust, The Slave Trade, or the genocide of Native Americans or Aboriginal peoples. There are wonderful stories as well like trips to outer space, medical discoveries, etc.

Things that can affect change in historiography can come from many sources. These ever-changing academic disciplines contribute to a greater wealth of knowledge in academia; new developments create a basis for rewriting the known and accepted narrative. When studying the beauty of history, historians and others of related disciplines follow strict codes and processes to ensure that history is presented as accurately and as unbiased as possible.

McPherson, James. “Revisionist Historians.” Revisionist Historians | AHA, Sept. 2003, www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2003/revisionist-historians. Accessed 13 Sept. 2017.

“Historical Revisionism.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 08 Sept. 2017. Web. 13 Sept. 2017.

Revisionism as a negative term: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/revisionist-history4.htm

Revisionism, denialism, and negationism: https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/cteal2018/2017/09/15/revisionism-denialism-and-negationism-in-history/

How "revisionist history" works: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/revisionist-history.htm

This website provides an overview of the "history" of "history." It helps us understand how history is recorded in text books, film, documentaries, etc. There are many perspectives on WHY history is recorded a certain way. This website helps us understand this while also discussing why objectivity is almost impossible. For those interested in going further in understanding histography (the study of history) and historical revisionism/revisionist history, this is a great beginning. In addition, it allows us to avoid FAKE NEWS... and gain some legitimate insight on what is happening. Serious scribes should be aware of this information: http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/writing/history/index.html

Sample references that demonstrate the "re-writing of history" and/or "historical revisionism" as it relates to our previous discussion.

Experts say revisionist history detrimental to American students: https://diverseeducation.com/article/77491/

Proposed textbooks are inaccurate, biased, and politicized new reports find: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/12/proposed-texas-textbooks-are-inaccurate-biased-and-politicized-new-report-finds/?utm_term=.d3724b80f86c

Texas Conservatives Win Curriculum Change: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html

Holocaust Denial: https://www.ushmm.org/confront-antisemitism/holocaust-denial-and-distortion

Christopher Columbus & Historical Revisionism: http://www.hamptoninstitution.org/confrontingcolumbus.html#.XUGvnR1Kjcd

Historical Revisionism: A Biblical Perspective, https://www.bjupress.com/pdfs/ed-issues-whitepapers/historical-revisionism.pdf

Biblical Revisionism: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20057481?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Civil War revisionism still shames America: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/civil-war-revisionism-shames-america-article-1.3134681

For 10 years, students in Texas have used a history textbook that says not all slaves were unhappy: https://qz.com/1273998/for-10-years-students-from-texas-have-been-using-a-history-textbook-that-says-not-all-slaves-were-unhappy/

How textbooks teach different versions of history: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/13/421744763/how-textbooks-can-teach-different-versions-of-history

Revisionist Historians: https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2003/revisionist-historians