Religion on the battlefield

Resource Information

The work Religion on the battlefield represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Religion on the battlefield

Statement of responsibility

Ron E. Hassner

Creator

• Hassner, Ron E., (Ron Eduard)

Author

• Hassner, Ron E., (Ron Eduard)

Subject

• Politische Krise
• Religion
• Religionskrieg
• Religiöst liv
• Soldater
• Krieg
• Soldiers -- Religious life
• Soldiers -- Religious life
• War -- Religious aspects
• War -- Religious aspects
• War -- Religious aspects
• Soldiers -- Religious life
• Krig -- religiösa aspekter

Language

eng

Summary

"How does religion shape the modern battlefield? Ron E. Hassner proposes that religion acts as a force multiplier, both enabling and constraining military operations. This is true not only for religiously radicalized fighters but also for professional soldiers. In the last century, religion has influenced modern militaries in the timing of attacks, the selection of targets for assault, the zeal with which units execute their mission, and the ability of individual soldiers to face the challenge of war. Religious ideas have not provided the reasons why conventional militaries fight, but religious practices have influenced their ability to do so effectively. In Religion on the Battlefield, Hassner focuses on the everyday practice of religion in a military context: the prayers, rituals, fasts, and feasts of the religious practitioners who make up the bulk of the adversaries in, bystanders to, and observers of armed conflicts. To show that religious practices have influenced battlefield decision making, Hassner draws most of his examples from major wars involving Western militaries. They include British soldiers in the trenches of World War I, U.S. pilots in World War II, and U.S. Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hassner shows that even modern, rational, and bureaucratized military organizations have taken--and must take--religious practice into account in the conduct of war"--

Assigning source

Publisher's Web site

Cataloging source

NIC/DLC

Dewey number

201/.7273

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

LC call number

BL65.W2

LC item number

H38 2016

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography