The politics of faith during the Civil War

In The Politics of Faith during the Civil War , Timothy L. Wesley examines the engagement of both northern and southern preachers in politics during the American Civil War, revealing an era of denominational, governmental, and public scrutiny of religious leaders. Controversial ministers risked ostracism within the local community, censure from church leaders, and arrests by provost marshals or local police. In contested areas of the Upper Confederacy and Border Union, ministers occasionally faced deadly violence for what they said or would not say from their pulpits. Even silence on political issues did not guarantee a preacher's security, as both sides arrested clergymen who defied the dictates of civil and military authorities by refusing to declare their loyalty in sermons or to pray for the designated nation, army, or president. The generation that fought the Civil War lived in arguably the most sacralized culture in the history of the United States. The participation of church members in the public arena meant that ministers wielded great authority. Wesley outlines the scope of that influence and considers, conversely, the feared outcomes of its abuse. By treating ministers as both individual men of conscience and leaders of religious communities, Wesley reveals that the reticence of otherwise loyal ministers to bring politics into the pulpit often grew not out of partisan concerns but out of doctrinal, historical, and local factors. The Politics of Faith during the Civil War sheds new light on the political motivations of homefront clergymen during wartime, revealing how and why the Civil War stands as the nation's first concerted campaign to check the ministry's freedom of religious expression.

In The Politics of Faith during the Civil War, Timothy L. Wesley examines the engagement of both northern and southern preachers in politics during the American Civil War, revealing an era of denominational, governmental, and public scrutiny of religious leaders. Controversial ministers risked ostracism within the local community, censure from church leaders, and arrests by provost marshals or local police. In contested areas of the Upper Confederacy and border Union, ministers occasionally faced deadly violence for what they said or would not say from their pulpits. Even silence on political issues did not guarantee a preacher's security, as both sides arrested clergymen who defied the dictates of civil and military authorities by refusing to declare their loyalty in sermons or to pray for the designated nation, army, or president.
The generation that fought the Civil War lived in arguably the most sacralized culture in the history of the United States. The participation of church members in the public arena meant that ministers wielded great authority. Wesley outlines the scope of that influence and considers, conversely, the feared outcomes of its abuse. By treating ministers as both individual men of conscience and leaders of religious communities, Wesley reveals that the reticence of otherwise loyal ministers to bring politics into the pulpit often grew not out of partisan concerns but out of doctrinal, historical, and local factors.
The Politics of Faith during the Civil War sheds new light on the political motivations of homefront clergymen during wartime, revealing how and why the Civil War stands as the nation's first concerted campaign to check the ministry's freedom of religious expression.

In The Politics Of Faith During The Civil War, Timothy L. Wesley Examines The Engagement Of Both Northern And Southern Preachers In Politics During The American Civil War, Revealing An Era Of Denominational, Governmental, And Public Scrutiny Of Religious Leaders. Controversial Ministers Risked Ostracism Within The Local Community, Censure From Church Leaders, And Arrests By Provost Marshals Or Local Police. In Contested Areas Of The Upper Confederacy And Border Union, Ministers Occasionally Faced Deadly Violence For What They Said Or Would Not Say From Their Pulpits. Even Silence On Political Issues Did Not Guarantee A Preacher's Security, As Both Sides Arrested Clergymen Who Defied The Dictates Of Civil And Military Authorities By Refusing To Declare Their Loyalty In Sermons Or To Pray For The Designated Nation, Army, Or President. The Politics Of Faith During The Civil War Sheds New Light On The Political Motivations Of Homefront Clergymen During Wartime, Revealing How And Why The Civil War Stands As The Nation's First Concerted Campaign To Check The Ministry's Freedom Of Religious Expression. -- Publisher's Description. Preachers, Slavery, And Antebellum Politics -- The Power And Place Of The Wartime Northern Ministry -- Partisanship And Potential Damage: Why Americans Feared Disloyal Preachers -- The Assault On Disloyalty In The Northern Ministry -- What The Preachers Thought: Political Preachers In The North -- The Confederate Ministry -- Confederate And Unionist Religious Life Under The Gun -- Black Church Leaders And Politics In The Civil War. Timothy L. Wesley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Le site de l'éditeur indique : "In The Politics of Faith during the Civil War, Timothy L. Wesley examines the engagement of both northern and southern preachers in politics during the American Civil War, revealing an era of denominational, governmental, and public scrutiny of religious leaders. Controversial ministers risked ostracism within the local community, censure from church leaders, and arrests by provost marshals or local police. In contested areas of the Upper Confederacy and border Union, ministers occasionally faced deadly violence for what they said or would not say from their pulpits. Even silence on political issues did not guarantee a preacher's security, as both sides arrested clergymen who defied the dictates of civil and military authorities by refusing to declare their loyalty in sermons or to pray for the designated nation, army, or president. The Politics of Faith during the Civil War sheds new light on the political motivations of homefront clergymen during wartime, revealing how and why the Civil War stands as the nation's first concerted campaign to check the ministry's freedom of religious expression." COVER 1 CONTENTS 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10 Introduction 16 1. Preachers, Slavery, and Antebellum Politics 23 2. The Power and Place of the Wartime Northern Ministry 47 3. Partisanship and Potential Damage: Why Americans Feared “Disloyal” Preachers 58 4. The Assault on Disloyalty in the Northern Ministry 75 5. What the Preachers Thought: Political Preachers in the North 108 6. The Confederate Ministry 137 7. Confederate and Unionist Religious Life under the Gun 156 8. Black Church Leaders and Politics in the Civil War 183 Epilogue 209 NOTES 218 INDEX 274 A 274 B 275 C 276 D 278 E 279 F 279 G 280 H 280 I 281 J 281 K 281 L 281 M 282 N 283 O 283 P 283 Q 285 R 285 S 285 T 287 U 287 V 287 W 287 Y 288 Z 288