1. Do you agree with Cicero and others that Herodotus was the father of history? Give reasons for your answer.
2. What do you think of the supernatural should be in historical reconstruction? Evaluate Ernst TROELTSCH'S three criteria for historical investigation.
3. Articulate your viewpoint: to what extent can we be objective or complete in our reconstructions of the past? To what extent is history inevitably told by the "winners"?
4. Personally, evaluate this chapter's presentation of myths of progress. To what extent do you think Western civilization is a construct rather than historical reality? To what extent has history telling in Europe and America made unreasonable value judgments in its terminology and choice of material?
5. If you are a Christian, what is your perspective on issues over which Christians have differing viewpoints, such as the degree of God's involvement in history, whether God primarily acts in love or justice, and whether things are likely to get better and better or worse and worse?