God on the Western Front: Soldiers and Religion in World War I

God on the Western Front explores the religious experiences of soldiers on the Western Front during World War I, using an international and interfaith approach to break new ground. It includes primary sources from German, French, and English soldiers, as well as religious writings from priests, bishops, ministers, and rabbis. The book shows how religious and battle experience are intertwined and showcases the wide range of spiritual responses that emerged across boundaries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2023
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

From 1914 to 1918, religious believers and hopeful skeptics sought to unravel the profound meaning and purpose behind the seemingly divinely orchestrated destruction that unfolded on the Western Front. In his captivating book, God on the Western Front: A History of Lived Religion Across National Boundaries, Religious Affiliations, and Class During World War I, Joseph F. Byrnes takes readers on an immersive journey through the battlefields of France, immersing them in the voices of German, French, and English soldiers, as well as the men and women who provided pastoral and medical care amidst the chaos. Byrnes delves into the religious writings of priests, bishops, ministers, and rabbis, as they grappled with the overwhelming sense of bewilderment and loss.

The story begins with ordinary citizens at home, grappling with the moral and ethical implications of war. It then shifts to the trenches, where soldiers expressed their foundational religious experiences through the language of "God-talk" and "nation-talk." Byrness' study pays close attention to the words of average men who struggled to articulate their religious sentiments, alongside the generals Helmuth von Moltke, Ferdinand Foch, and Douglas Haig, as well as the soldier theologians Franz Rosenzweig, Paul Tillich, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy. Through his international and interfaith approach, Byrness breaks new ground, illuminating how religious and battle experiences are intertwined and showcasing the diverse range of spiritual responses that emerged across boundaries.

This book appeals to scholars and students of modern European history, religious history, and the history of war, offering a fresh perspective on a pivotal period in human history. Byrnes' meticulous research and engaging storytelling make God on the Western Front a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex interplay between religion, warfare, and the human experience.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271095103