“In this class, I have gained a deeper understanding of how historical events have shaped the United States, including the moral, political, and social dynamics that continue to influence today’s culture. This knowledge has helped me frame historical narratives in ways that can be used to minister to individuals in my community, particularly when discussing justice, freedom, and societal change. Understanding the past also strengthens my ability to counsel and lead others in navigating contemporary issues through a biblical lens. I appreciated the balance of both detailed historical facts and the broader implications of those events. The course also provided a solid foundation for understanding U.S. history from a Christian perspective, which is invaluable in my ministry. The material was comprehensive, and I enjoyed how the course encouraged critical thinking about how history can impact both personal faith and public life.”

“A big thing I took away from this course was how faith has played a role in shaping American history. Learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement really stood out. It showed how faith can drive real change, and that’s something I can use when supporting students who want to make a difference. The course also helped me understand the bigger picture of American culture, which is useful since I work with students from all over, including the U.S. Things like the Great Depression, Cold War, and Civil Rights era gave me more insight into how history affects people’s perspectives today. I liked that the course wasn’t just dry facts but actually explained why things happened and how they connect. The quizzes helped me keep track of what I was learning, and I liked how it covered a mix of politics, economy, and social movements. The parts on faith and activism were especially interesting since they relate to what I do in chaplaincy.”

“I learned how to view history through the lens of it being past human behavior; this course further cemented the basic foundations of US History in my mind to use as a continuation point in my further studies of America (and in general) and how past events have shaped our country up until today. I also learned that many events in history have been colored with different impressions over time due to the cultural and spiritual climate of those specific periods, and the fact that I can now look at events knowing there are more sides to be told than just one excites me as I continue to research both for my formal education and my personal education. I liked that Mr. Tillery taught an overall philosophy of understanding how history worked through the lens of learning to think for yourself and examining human behavior in ways that encouraged nuanced thinking instead of black and white viewpoints. I also enjoyed the fact that he did not hammer any specific worldview to me, the student, so that I could learn to think for myself and examine the events of history; I think emphasizing that past events are very gray in nature really encourages the ability to think critically and logically instead of automatically falling into lines of thinking that we are told to believe that may not be true or misleading in nature, which I believe is the norm in our current political and social climate.”