Religion and the U.S. Civil War

If there is any one topic about the Civil War that is downplayed today more than religion, I am not aware of it. In today’s “modern” society, there is the propensity to separate religion from any topical discussion. The Civil War era fares no different, yet, a short look back at the primary sources shows that religion not only played a major role in the draw-up, execution and conclusion of the war, it was excruciatingly pivotal in the daily happenstances of the times.

It has become all-to-often than even the mere hint of including religion in a Civil War discussion will draw boos and hisses from the group. It is not uncommon for a civic-minded conglomeration of scholars to engage in a lively debate up until the point that religion is mention. It is typical at such a point that the group can morph into an angry mob of red faces and pounding fists.

The irony is however that the deep emotions brought to the surface at the mention of religion are the same emotions evoked that helped lead the United States of America to split into two nations and spend four years bloodying each other to near extinction.

Many of today’s “enlightened” thinkers believe they have all of history figured out and that it was just a rogue bunch of womanizing, atheistic drunks that carved a new world power out of the earth and clay.  These thinkers completely malign the facts of history and distort the very words of those proud men and women that gave their lives for an idea.

Few of such scholarly leaders would ever believe that their supposed deist buddy, George Washington, would have written vociferously on the necessity of establishing an office for Christian Chaplains within the Army. Not only that, but his policy of Christian Chaplains went nearly unchallenged for more than half a century.

This is not to say whether or not George Washington was right or wrong, but rather to point out the fallacy that many history revisionists want to portray upon the unsuspecting public. Here at Uncommon History, the truth will be laid bare and the reader may make an informed decision on what truly happened in our history,  from the pens and voices of those who created it.

So why is this all so fascinating to me, the author?

It was at one of my very first events as a Civil War reenactor that a man portraying a Chaplain challenged my naive understanding of the role of religion, specifically Christianity in the Civil War. Through years of public education the role of religion seemed to be more of a peripheral agent and not a direct influence. I accepted this one man’s challenge to me and took it on full force. I spent many a day, evening and weekend in public libraries trying to prove false his allegations and interpretations. Instead, what I discovered helped to change my life dramatically. It was only a part of what became years of personal and spiritual transformation, but I continue to devour as much as I can on the subject. Each time I am rewarded with a better sense of history and the influence of Jesus Christ and His followers, of whom I now consider myself among.

Related Blog Entries:

• Antisemitism from the Top
• Meanwhile…Way Out West
• Spirituality and the US Civil War

Civil War Tracts:

• Weekly Civil War Tract #1
• Civil War Tract # 356
• The Death of Freedom- Part 1
• The Death of Freedom – Part 2

Additional Resources:

Memorializing the Civil War

An interesting snippet of little-known historic facts about Christianity during the US Civil War. Although I agree with most of these bullets, I take exception to #3. Why? Because historic fact points out that Chaplains were utilized highly during the Revolutionary war and were provided for by the US Congress after ratification of the US Constitution. The number of chaplains reduced with the size of the army after the revolution, but in the Mexican-American war during the 1840’s there was a resurgence in the number of chaplains in the US Army.

Fighters of Faith Revivals in the Camp

The historical facts in this article are interesting and worth the reading. However, I do disagree with the opening statement that, “At first, most Civil War soldiers cared little for religion.” There were pockets of the nation that ridiculed religion, but by-and-large there was much Christian religious influence from the beginning of the war onward. In fact, it is my point-of-view that it was primarily the religious influence itself that set aflame the passions that sent the United States into a war frenzy.

The Puzzling Faith of Abraham Lincoln

Christianity in the Confederate South: Southern Nationalism and Christianity

Religion in the Civil War: The Northern Side

The US Civil War as a Theological War

I deeply appreciate the dedicated and thorough research performed to compose this document. While I do not fully prescribe to all of the details within it, it is an interesting read and worth a look by anyone interested in this subject.

Recommended Reading:

While God Is Marching on

Steven E. Woodworth. University Press of Kansas 2003, Paperback, 406 pages, $12.57

Faith In The Fight

John W. Brinsfield (Editor). Stackpole Books 2008, Paperback, 256 pages, $12.89