The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-04-09
CAPTER III,

CAPTER III.
A concept of history is an Interpretation of history
from certain point of view The point of view is gen
orally determined By the material interests of the
historian.
There are three great concepts of history, Theo-
logical, theological and Scientific.
The Theological concept is the oldest Interpretation
Of the happenings of history and is based upon the
assumption that everything happens in accordance with
the Will of Creator This concept like everything else
in the universe has been subject to Evolutionary process
During the childhood of the race, when the minds Of
undeveloped when none but the simplest ideas
could be grasped, man had many gods, each of whom
could do but thing. Thus find them worshiping
gods of fire. Winds thunder, storms, smoke, WATER etc.
Later as their mental abilities developed they increased
the abilities of their gods and thereby reduced their
number, unr eventually concept Cf Deity was evolved
which embodied in itself all the gods of Ancient Poly
theism.
In other words instead of a concept of many gods
each of whom could do single thing. they evolved
concept Of single god who could do many things
.uay god alwise and all-powerfu who could do ALL
things
This concept carried within itself fatal contra
dicton god of perfect good could not be the author
OF evil so it became necessary to evolve another god
the author OF evil. Today in the theological world we
find duality of gods, good god, author of all bene
cence and "bad god, author of all evil, called Devil
history inconsistent for instead of blaming their
sclfmade devil for the evils which afflict them they
blame each other and build as and penitentiaries to
hold those who in their opinion have gone contrary
TO the Divine Will.
The theological conception of history often referred
to as the 'Great Man Theory teaches that in each
generation great are born into the world who by the
sheer force of their greatness and personality cause
great changes to into the world which makes for
human beterment This theory is the basis of the Hero
Worship of to-day 1t carries within itself several contra
dlctons for if great born who influence the
course Of history for good then it is but logical that
there those born who influence it for evil This is the
basis for assassnatons the assassin aborng under the
deuslon that he is removing an evil from the world.
Another contradiction is that if great influence
the world for good other equally great men can influence
it for evil, thus the influence of the one would be
cancelled by the other and progress would be impossible
All reasoning, if such it may be called, of most of
current fiction some sermonzers and most public lee
trers and librarians based upon an assumption of
the correctness of the great man theory.
The theological Concept of history is taught in the
public schools The Theological Concept is taught in the
Sunday Schools yet there thousands of grade school
teachers who teach in the public schools on week days
from the theological concept and the Sunday Schools
from the Theological Concept, and never notice the
contradiction!
The Scientific Interpretation of history generally
known the Materaist Conception of History teaches
that changes in social structure due to changes of
method in the acquisition of the necessities of life.
According to the Theological Concept Gods cause
change
According to the theological Concept, Great Men
cause change.
According to the Scientific Concept changes in the
the methods of production cause changes in the social
structure