Besides theology and biblical studies, the other major category of reading I do is military history. I am no expert in the topic, but it is a nice diversion from too much Hebrew. But since I am doing more thinking about just war theory and war in the Bible, I have been more interested in finding works that do a Christian military history, or a moral history. Upon the Altar of the Nation by Harry Stout is the first work I have found in this genre and it is an excellent introduction. Stout looks at the Civil War from a moral perspective to see what he will find. He comes to two main conclusions in my reading of the book. The structure of the book follows the war throughout the time of actual fighting and looks at both the tactics as well as the attitudes of the soldiers, generals, the preachers back home and the newspapers.
1. He spends most of his time looking at whether the Civil War was a justly fought war. He decides (strongly) that it was not fought in a just manner. There was little sense of proportion, for example, and by the end of the war civilians were almost being viewed as military personnel. But that is not what he is highly concerned. His major point is that it was an unjust war and NO ONE CARED. The papers on both sides as well as the preachers, of all denominations, ignored the unjust aspects of the war and simply supported their side. They did argue about the war was being conducted, but only on rare occasions was a concern raised about a moral issue.
2. The reason that no moral issue was raised, according to Stout, is that a civil religion was being formed. A glue was needed to keep each side together, and a civil American religion became key for both sides, and especially the North. For example, generals were priests. The dead in battle became martyrs, and were spoken of dying as upon the altar of the nation. When the nation collective becomes the god, then no moral questions are needed to be asked, because all means can be taken for the service of God.
Implications for today? Two areas. First, we need to be more discerning and questioning about wars going on today and how they are being conducted. Second, we need to be aware of the American civil religion and not be deceived by a confusion of a civil religion with our following of God. It is a great book, and any of you interested in military history should read it.