Still, the popular press, particularly since 9/11, has discovered that not only realpolitik, economics, or dictators but organized religion can play a major role in war – though it is often assumed that this happens elsewhere, in Donald Rumsfeld’s phrase, “the uncivilized nations”(3) However, a close observer of America’s response to 9/11 would have noticed the frequency that politicians, businesses, mass media, and individuals invoked and are still using the slogan, “God bless America,” and singing the Irving Berlin song has become customary at sports events. In spite of our infatuation with war, I have learned that a good way to kill conversation is to respond to a new acquaintance’s query as to subject of my research by saying, “Religions’ roles in war.” This generates two responses, “that’s relevant today” or “religious wars are the worst,” and then the subject changes. The result was to give 'moral legitimacy' to 'military activism.' (2) And the dangerous messianic brand of religion, one where self-doubt is minimal, has increasingly come to color the modern world of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.(1) Bacevich relates America's new thirst for militarism to the rise of militant evangelicalism's post Vietnam love affair with Israel, reinterpretation of just war of contemporary life. 'The moral certitude of the state in wartime is a kind of fundamentalism.

Two recent books, Chris Hedges, War Is a Force that Gives us Meaning and Andrew Bacevich, The New American Militarism, discuss our nation's love of war and both link it to religion.

What is normal for little boys is more dangerous in adults. So I went to the YMCA and made one out of wood that sufficed when I could not borrow the neighbor boys’ guns. I remember as an 8-year-old that my Methodist parents would not buy me a toy gun. 'I really like war.' The parents at this point hustled the child off (with a story likely to be retold often). You don't know yet what war is really like.' The child did not back down. A Quaker matron pronounced, ' I hate war.' The child responded, 'I like war.' She replied, kindly, “You're just a little boy. After meeting one Sunday, a group of Friends, including the parents, were sitting in a circle having a discussion. II A Century of War (Lewiston, New York: Mellen Press), 2004.Ī colleague at Swarthmore College is attempting to raise her 8-year-old son in accordance with Quaker principles. 'Why Religions Facilitate War' and “How Religions Facilitate Peace” were prepared by J.William Frost for the Friends Association for Higher Education Conference at Haverford College, June 16-19, 2005. This paper is based upon his A History of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim Perspectives on War and Peace, vol. Why Religions Facilitate War and How Religions Facilitate Peace

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