Men of God, Men of War -- Reflections on Spiritual Support in the Armed Forces
When death threatens, humans often discover a sudden belief in God. Sustained exposure to mortal danger can make believers of even the most irreverent and most sceptical. This probably explains why "men of God" -- that is priests and clergy -- have traditionally accompanied "men of war" -- that is warriors and soldiers -- whenever they face combat. What follows is a short reflection on spiritual support for men engaged in warfare. Mass at an RAF Station in 1940 In the ancient world, priests usually accompanied armies to war, providing what was considered indispensable services to the fighting troops -- interpreting the will of the gods. The Spartans, for example, would not engage in combat unless the priests accompanying them received "positive" signs when reading the entrails of a slaughtered sacrificial animal. The priests effectively had the final word on whether battle would be joined or not. Likewise in ancient Rome, priests were primarily responsi...