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The Sword of the Lord - (Critical Problems in History) by Doris L Bergen (Paperback)
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Highlights
- The Sword of the Lord explores the development of the military chaplaincy across history and geography and shows the legacy of these devoted men.From the first to the twenty-first century, from Europe to North America, the military chaplaincy has existed in a recognizable form for more than 1,600 years.
- About the Author: Doris L. Bergen is the Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor of Holocaust Studies at the University of Toronto.
- 298 Pages
- History, Military
- Series Name: Critical Problems in History
Description
About the Book
The Sword of the Lord examines the history, development, and impact of military chaplains rom the first to the twenty-first century, from Europe to North America.Book Synopsis
The Sword of the Lord explores the development of the military chaplaincy across history and geography and shows the legacy of these devoted men.
From the first to the twenty-first century, from Europe to North America, the military chaplaincy has existed in a recognizable form for more than 1,600 years. The Sword of the Lord analyzes specific historical moments in the development of the chaplaincy, beginning in antiquity and progressing through the Crusades, the English Civil War, the American Civil War, both World Wars, and the Vietnam War. The book also includes vivid accounts by two former chaplains--an American rabbi who served in World War II and an American Catholic priest who served in Vietnam. This remarkable work treats with care and sensitivity a fascinating and important topic, serving as a record of these men's lives as well as raising important questions about morality and faith in the face of war.
Review Quotes
"... a useful introductory survey of the history of military chaplaincy in Europe and North America from antiquity to the present day. Doris Bergen has assembled a team of contributors who have written stimulating essays that go some way towards illuminating the history of this venerable and controversial ministry." --Theology
"...a riveting account.... Recommended." --CHOICE
"...a very informative and readable history of military chaplains. It's a book that all who are interested in reflecting on the nature and purpose of ministry would benefit from." --Contact
"The Sword of the Lord merits a place on the bookshelf for its extensive mapping out of the fairly confined terrain of chaplain studies. The twelve essays gathered here ... are a welcome addition to this too often neglected aspect of military and religious history. It is a valuable addition to the literature on those figures who stand at a unique intersection of religion and the military." --Journal of Military History
"Doris Bergen's edited collection of essays, The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century, is a refreshing reminder of the value of questions well asked--What has changed across two millennia of chaplaincy? What has remained the same?--and answers thoughtfully formulated." --The Journal of Religion
"The book is a good introduction to the history and basic challenges of military chaplaincy. The chapters range across historical periods as distinct as the Roman Empire, the Crusades, the American Civil War, both World Wars and Vietnam. It will be of interest to chaplains and military historians, who are its principal audience." --Anglican Theological Review
"These well-written essays fill a gap in our understanding of the roles played by military chaplains through the ages. This book will prove valuable to general readers, historians, and theologians interested in the interplay between religion, politics, and war." --History: Review of New Books
"This book is recommended for Catholic libraries, for historians, for theologians who are interested in questions of just war and support for our troops, and for general readers." --Catholic Library World
"This is an original, informative and thought-provoking volume that will be of as much interest to scholars in the field of war studies as to those in religious studies." --Journal of Ecclesiastical History
"This volume is given great force by two chapters written by chaplains sharing their experiences...." --The Catholic Historical Review
About the Author
Doris L. Bergen is the Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor of Holocaust Studies at the University of Toronto. She is the author of Twisted Cross: The German Christian Movement in the Third Reich (1996); War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust (2003), and editor of Lessons and Legacies VIII (2008).
Contributors: Ralph W. Mathisen, Michael McCormick, David S. Bachrach, Anne Laurence, Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr., Hartmut Lehmann, Duff Crerar, Doris L. Bergen, Max B. Wall, Joseph F. O'Donnell, C.S.C., Anne C. Loveland, and Michael J. Baxter, C.S.C.