You are the Protagonist: A Personal Theory of History

ChatGPT’s take on a picture to illustrate the present article

There are several theories of history that have been proposed by historians and social scientists to explain why historical events unfolded the way that they did. These include:

1. Marxist theory of history: This theory proposes that historical events are shaped by economic and social factors, with class struggle being the primary driving force.
2. Cultural theory of history: This theory suggests that historical events are shaped by cultural factors, such as language, religion, and art.
3. Structural theory of history: This theory argues that historical events are driven by larger structural forces, such as political and economic institutions, rather than individual actions.
4. Environmental theory of history: This theory proposes that historical events are shaped by environmental factors, such as climate, geography, and natural resources.
5. Feminist theory of history: This theory focuses on the role of women in historical events and argues that their experiences and contributions have been largely overlooked by traditional historical narratives.

Let’s add to this a “Personal” or “Anthropological” theory of history: a first person take on history. In other words, examining history from the lens that historical events happen for you rather than to you. The latter orientation often leaves us feeling powerless and purposeless while the former allows us to actualize. The reality is that we can choose to see purpose in everything, or purpose in nothing. Spiritually, the former outlook seems to be the prophetic teaching… and it is captured in this “Personal” theory of history.

As an example, why did COVID-19 happen occur, from your perspective? Why did 9/11 occur? Going back further, why was the sun formed? Why did the big bang occur?

From Umar Mukhtar’s personal perspective, WWII happened to raise him from a place of obscurity to a spiritual hero. 9/11 happened, from Sh Omar Suleiman’s perspective, to teach people about the true teachings of Islam and to eventually start Yaqeen. COVID-19 happened from my perspective to thrust me in to a period of spiritual isolation and introspection.

Now, examining events through this lens makes one prone to succumbing to a rather geocentric/egotistical outlook on life, and that may explain why it has generally been avoided. However, it does have merit as it is how we experience external events — phenomenologically, we are all the centers of the universe. In that sense it is the most intuitive way of looking at history.

Thus, in an effort to avoid this tendency towards egocentrism, it is paramount that we only use use this lens in conjunction with spiritual insight — with the recognition that God is in control and that this is His story for us. Understanding that the story that is history is ultimately His doing, and that we are mere actors in this grand play, will allow us to remain humble while at the same time finding purpose in everything. God has created you in such a time and place that global phenomena around you were written to facilitate for you self-actualization. Events that preceded your creation were to set the stage for your life. Events that happen during your life are to provide for you moments for personal growth and development… the right probing, at the right time, to guide you in the right direction, so that you may leave your mark and contribute to the story — the history — that is your life. You are the protagonist.

History is a complex, second-order system. The study of history to predict future events is subject to the Hawthorne effect — making predictions and disseminating them impacts the future, which makes it particularly difficult to predict. However, as with all good theories of history, the proposed theory provides a powerful mechanism for doing so. It is said that “the best way of predicting the future is to create it”. This theory empowers the individual to do just that.

And the remarkable omnipotence of God is elucidated here. He, in one world, has written a personal history for all human beings — rather, all creation — even contemporaries. Praise be to Him!