Kan die historikus God se hand in die geskiedenis lees

Theologians often speak of the God of history. This article discusses historians’ reactions to these claims and their strong scepticism about any effort to discover hidden designs in history. But at the same time historians recognise the powerful influence of religion on people who are the real subjects of history. Using two aspects of the Afrikaner’s history as an example the article discusses on the one hand the dangers inherent in negating any understanding of religious influences on history or on the other hand a metaphysical acceptance of Divine intervention. Comparing American claims to rediscover God in American history to Afrikaner efforts to explain certain events in their history in terms of a special relationship with God the article concludes that even in a period in history marked by such strong secularism as is currently the case in Western societies future historians will need more than just their academic and intellectual tools to understand and explain historical events.