Spirituality During the Civil War

Summary for March 7 and 14: Spirituality during the Civil War

Two book recommendations:

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust

Faith in the Fight: Civil War Chaplains, Editors John W. Brinsfield, William C. Davis, Benedict Maryniak, and James I. Robertson, Jr.

During the Civil War, people volunteered to serve as chaplains in order to:

- go with members of their own churches

- protect their impressionable young men from being corrupted;

- prepare the soldiers for death;

- continue worship.

The Civil War was an ecumenical period. For instance, a Catholic priest would give absolution to all troops of all denominations, rather than just Catholics.

Chaplains had to be elected by the regiment. In one vote, 335 troops voted that they could find the way to hell without the assistance of clergy.

The period leading up to the Civil War was a time of unrest. Population boomed, through immigration and expansion of US territory. Experimental religious ideas spread. Would you find any of these at your church today?

- transcendentalism (Thoreau, Emerson)

- universalism

- spiritualism

- phrenology (interpreting personality based on bumps on the head)

- mesmerism, animal magnetism

- health food

- utopian communities (communes)

Official church action on the issue of slavery was difficult. Many denominations ended up split over Civil War issues.

Camp: not just for kids

On March 7 and 14, we'll be plunging ourselves into the topic of Spirituality during the Civil War.

On Feb 21 we heard from Becky, Program Director at Crestfield Camp and Conference Center. I direct you to the web site which lists details about all the offerings. http://www.crestfield.net/

Crestifeld offers many programs for adults, including:

Women’s Retreat

Quilter’s retreat

Fishing Retreat

Grandparents/GrandKids weekend

And many more. Plus there are lots of events for kids of all ages. There are many summer camps.

Some unique aspects of Crestfield:

Stargazing is excellent – Crestfield is well away from city light pollution.

Natural clay pits, mud.

Swamp ball – kickball in the mud, with the frogs.

Firewood deal – you cut and split, and you can keep half of the wood and leave half at Crestfield.