How many wars have been fought where one or both sides haven't firmly believed that God was aligned with them? How many militaries in the world don't teach, overtly or subtly, that they are dong the work of God? A few, perhaps, but not many -- everyone seems convinced that God is on their side whenever they go to war and engage in the difficult task of slaughtering other human beings.
Indeed, is there any time that people are more convinced of having God on their side but when they are killing other humans in large numbers? This should tell us something about the nature of the relationship between people and the gods they worship -- which is to say, about theists themselves since the gods they worship exist nowhere but their own minds.
Letters bequeathed to the National Library of Scotland reveal that Earl Haig commander of British forces in France during World War I, firmly believed that God was on his side on the eve of the battle of the Somme. As it would turn out the first day of the Somme would be the deadliest single day for British arms in its history.
Amazingly the general revealed detailed battle plans in letters to his wife and when a military censor attempted to block the information he was relieved of his post.
When it comes to military matters, it often seems as though people think that God is on their side -- and specifically, that God will help them slaughter as many of the opposing side as is necessary in order to achieve complete victory.
Is this image of God consistent with traditional theology that people usually adhere to? If God really wanted one side to win, why would a war even be necessary?
Add your thoughts to the comments here or join the ongoing discussion in the forum.
In the past, whenever I heard “god is on our side”, I used to say, “Hitler said god was on his side too.” But given how many people shout “Godwin’s Law!” in response, it’s not very usable.
Now when someone says “god is on our side,” I’ll point out that the Saudi hijackers claimed it too. And since they succeeded, they must have been right. It really puts a damper on the speaker.
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As Abraham Lincoln said about each side claiming God was on their side, “Both might be, but one MUST be, wrong.”
I have no problem with this concept of gods being on one side or the other because every theist has his or her personal god, unique to them, that only exists in their own head. So of course that god is on their side.
British poet J.C. Squire put in rather neatly in 1916:
God heard the embattled nations sing and shout
“Gott strafe England” and “God save the King!”
God this, God that, and God the other thing –
“Good God!” said God, “I’ve got my work cut out!”
I want to go off on a slight tangent here following on from my previous comment.
From my experience Christians use scripture to re-enforce their particular view on a topic, and in this way make their own unique idea of what God thinks, and thus what God is like – their own personal version. Biblical scripture is so contradictory and varied, that it is easy for the Christian to cherry pick something to support his or her view.
Many Christians find themselves aligned and in lock step with others on some issues, but there are many subjects were we find some diversity of opinion. In these situations we find them scurrying to there Bibles to find text that support their own view at the expense of that of their opponents. One of these subjects is the thorny one about circumcision.
To those that may not know the debate about circumcision is running strongly in the US at the moment. There is a large amount of medical evidence building a strong case for routine circumcision of male (certainly not female) babies and a number of articles have been written on the subject. The posts written by the readers have been prolific, and quite passionate, in some cases.
I have written a number of posts myself – in support of circumcision because I find the evidence compelling – and have paid attention to what others have written.
Many of the posters have been Christian and have drawn on their faith, and interpretation of Biblical scripture, to support their view. Just as many use the Bible to support circumcision as those that use it to condemn the practice.
What I am saying is that Christians will often have a view on a subject, and then find justification for that view in scripture, rather than the other way around.
I wonder how many Christians have/would change their opinions or approaches to a subject if those opinions/approaches conflicted with the biblical mandated opinion/approach. If a Christian feels a certain way, can he change that feeling because his Bible tells him so?
Joan,
He will just find a bit that agrees with what he believes and run with that. The Bible is a smorgasbord of different options.