OpenTheo

‘Robert E. Lee: A Life’, with Dr. Allen Guelzo

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

‘Robert E. Lee: A Life’, with Dr. Allen Guelzo

October 6, 2021
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

On this episode, Kevin interviews Civil War historian Dr. Allen Guelzo , Senior Research Scholar at Princeton. Dr. Guelzo’s new biography of Robert E. Lee paints a portrait of neither a sinner nor a saint, but a full picture of a complex human being. Dr. Guelzo is a historian with a solid theological background. He and Kevin address how General Lee could be both opposed to slavery and commit treason to defend it. The South came very close to victory: How would that have changed history? How did Lee’s fatherlessness affect his leadership? And of course they cover the question of the removal of statues. 

Life and Books and Everything is sponsored by Crossway, publisher of new books by Michael Reeves and Dane Ortlund . 

For 30% off this book and all other books and Bibles at Crossway, sign up for a free Crossway+ account at crossway.org/LBE.

Timestamps:

Dr. Allen Guelzo, First-time Listener [1:02 – 2:47]

Guelzo’s Other Historical Works [2:47 – 12:53]

The Making of a Great Course [12:53 – 14:13]

Writing a Biography of Robert E. Lee [14:13 – 19:21]

What Movies Get Right and Wrong about Lee [19:21 – 24:47]

“…the biography of someone who commits treason?” [24:47 – 29:24]

A Christian Way of Doing History [29:24 – 36:18]

Neither Saint Nor Devil [36:18 – 44:41]

Robert, Son of the Great Light Horse Harry Lee [44:41 – 48:37]

Before and After the War [48:37 – 51:53]

What if the South had won? [51:33 – 58:30]

Lee and Slavery [58:30 – 1:04:20]

Should statues be removed? [1:04:20 – 1:09:22] 

Books and Everything:

Robert E. Lee: A Life, by Allen Guelzo

The Great Courses 

Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia: 175 Years of Thinking and Acting Biblically, by Philip Graham Ryken 

Edwards on the Will: A Century of American Theological Debate, by Allen Guelzo 

Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President , by Allen Guelzo

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion , by Allen Guelzo

Redeeming the Great Emancipator , by Allen Guelzo, et al

Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction, by Allen Guelzo 

Faith of the Fatherless, by Paul Vitz 

“Of Monuments & Men,” by Allen C. Gue lzo and John M. Rudy

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More From Life and Books and Everything

Evangelical Elites
Evangelical Elites
Life and Books and Everything
October 19, 2021
How do you use the term ‘elite?’ Is it positive or is it a term of derision? Elites, and especially Evangelical elites, have been criticized a lot lat
'A Theology of Paul and His Letters,' with Dr. Douglas Moo
'A Theology of Paul and His Letters,' with Dr. Douglas Moo
Life and Books and Everything
November 2, 2021
Dr. Douglas Moo, theologian and professor at Wheaton, joins Kevin, Collin, and Justin to talk about his new and substantial contribution, A Theology o
Evangelism, with William Taylor
Evangelism, with William Taylor
Life and Books and Everything
November 18, 2021
From the 2021 Faithful Conference, Kevin interviews keynote speaker William Taylor. Taylor is the rector of St. Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate, London.
Abortion, Threats to the Church, and Depicting Jesus
Abortion, Threats to the Church, and Depicting Jesus
Life and Books and Everything
September 21, 2021
In this episode Kevin and Justin take a long, hard look at abortion in America. With the new law in Texas making news, and a potential challenge to Ro
Thinking Biblically About Abuse, with Jim Newheiser
Thinking Biblically About Abuse, with Jim Newheiser
Life and Books and Everything
August 24, 2021
In this episode, Kevin is joined by Dr. James Newheiser, theDirector of the Christian Counseling Program and Associate Professor ofChristian Counselin
Afghanistan, Olympics, & Mars Hill
Afghanistan, Olympics, & Mars Hill
Life and Books and Everything
August 16, 2021
Catching up with friends after a long summer is one of the great joys of life. In this first episode of Season 4, Kevin, Collin, and Justin chat about
More From "Life and Books and Everything"

More on OpenTheo

How Should I Respond to an LGBTQ Person Who Says He Feels Good About Who He Is?
How Should I Respond to an LGBTQ Person Who Says He Feels Good About Who He Is?
#STRask
March 2, 2026
Questions about responding to an LGBTQ person who says he feels good about who he is, and whether—since we all have sin in our life we don’t consider
What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives if He Doesn’t Give Us Instructions?
What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives if He Doesn’t Give Us Instructions?
#STRask
February 23, 2026
Questions about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, advice for someone who believes in God intellectually but struggles to understand how to hav
Is 1 Corinthians 12:3 a Black-and-White Tool for Discernment?
Is 1 Corinthians 12:3 a Black-and-White Tool for Discernment?
#STRask
October 27, 2025
Questions about whether the claim in 1 Corinthians that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” is a black-and-white tool for disce
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
#STRask
January 22, 2026
Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intel
Are Demon Possessions and Exorcisms in the New Testament Literal?
Are Demon Possessions and Exorcisms in the New Testament Literal?
#STRask
December 11, 2025
Questions about whether references to demon possessions and exorcisms in the New Testament are literal, how to talk to young children about ghosts, an
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
#STRask
November 13, 2025
Question about why it seems like the Bible teaches you how to be a proper slave owner rather than than saying, “Stop it. Give them freedom.”   * It s
How Could One Person Trust Another Person on the Topic of God?
How Could One Person Trust Another Person on the Topic of God?
#STRask
March 5, 2026
Questions about how one person could trust another person on the topic of God, how STR obtained information about God that others haven’t obtained, an
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
Life and Books and Everything
February 18, 2026
"I love being a pastor, and I love pastors, which is why I hope you will consider joining us at the Coram Deo Pastors Conference in 2026." —Kevin DeYo
Why Are So Many Christians Condemning LGB People Just Because of How They Love?
Why Are So Many Christians Condemning LGB People Just Because of How They Love?
#STRask
January 15, 2026
Questions about Christians condemning LGB people just because of how they love, how God can expect someone to be celibate when others are free to marr
How Can We Know Who Is Teaching the Same Gospel Paul Taught?
How Can We Know Who Is Teaching the Same Gospel Paul Taught?
#STRask
February 16, 2026
Questions about how we can know who is teaching the same gospel Paul taught, and whether or not Jeremiah 1:5 supports the idea that we pre-existed in
Life and Ministry in Charlotte and in the SBC with Clint Pressley
Life and Ministry in Charlotte and in the SBC with Clint Pressley
Life and Books and Everything
December 15, 2025
In a rare cultural anomaly that may never be repeated in our lifetimes, the current SBC President and current PCA Moderator live in the same neighborh
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Life and Books and Everything
October 27, 2025
What is conservatism? And why does it go hand in hand with religious freedom? How should we think about the American experiment of ordered liberty? Ha
Shouldn’t I Be Praying for My Soul Rather Than for Material Things?
Shouldn’t I Be Praying for My Soul Rather Than for Material Things?
#STRask
February 2, 2026
Questions about whether we should be praying for our souls rather than for material things, why we need to pray about decisions, whether the devil can
Can Two Logical People Come to Conflicting Conclusions Without Committing a Fallacy?
Can Two Logical People Come to Conflicting Conclusions Without Committing a Fallacy?
#STRask
January 8, 2026
Questions about whether two logical people can come to conflicting conclusions on a topic without committing a fallacy, how Greg, as a public figure,
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
#STRask
November 24, 2025
Questions about why we say someone was saved on a particular date if it was part of an eternal plan, the Roman Catholic view of the gospel vs. the Bib