The Faith of the American Soldier

by Stephen Mansfield

An exploration of the major wars in U.S. history from the perspective of the religious beliefs of its soldiers discusses such topics as faith in the face of life-threatening military conflicts, the moral dilemmas of killing others, the experience of post-traumatic stress among faithful soldiers, and the religious nature of the warrior ethic today. By the author of The Faith of George W. Bush.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, History, Religion, Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Stephen Mansfield is a New York Times bestselling author and a popular speaker who is becoming one of the nation’s most respected voices on religion and American culture. He is also an activist in a variety of social causes.

Stephen was born in Georgia but grew up largely in Europe due to his father’s career as an officer in the United States Army. After a youth filled with sports, travel, and mischief, he was recruited to play college football but turned down the opportunity when a Christian conversion moved him to attend a leading Christian college.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy and then moved to Texas where he pastored a church, completed two Master’s degrees, hosted a radio show and began acquiring a reputation as a popular speaker of both depth and humor. He moved to Tennessee in 1991 where he again pastored a church, did relief work among the Kurds in Northern Iraq, served as a political consultant, and completed a doctorate.

It was during this time that he also launched the writing career for which he has become internationally known. His first book on Winston Churchill was a Gold Medallion Award Finalist. He also wrote widely-acclaimed biographies of Booker T. Washington and George Whitefield as well as a number of other books on history and leadership. In 1997, the Governor of Tennessee commissioned Mansfield to write the official history of religion in Tennessee for that state’s bicentennial.

In 2002, Stephen left the pastorate after twenty fruitful years to write and lecture full-time. Not long afterward he wrote The Faith of George W. Bush, which spent many weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and won numerous national awards. The book also became a source for Oliver Stone’s internationally acclaimed film W, which chronicled Bush’s rise to the presidency.

This international bestseller led to a string of influential books over the following eight years. Stephen wrote The Faith of the American Soldier after being embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq. He also wrote about the new Pope in Benedict XVI: His Life and Mission. His book The Faith of Barack Obama was another international bestseller and was often a topic in major media during the presidential campaign of 2008. To answer the crumbling values of portions of corporate America, he wrote The Search for God and Guinness and soon found himself speaking to corporate gatherings around the world.

Stephen continues to write books about faith and culture—recently on topics like Sarah Palin, Oprah Winfrey and America’s generals—but beyond his writing career he has founded The Mansfield Group, a successful consulting and communications firm, as well as Chartwell Literary Group, a firm that creates and manages literary projects. Together with his wife, Beverly, Mansfield has created The Global Leadership Development Fund, a foundation that sponsors leadership training and networking around the world.

In recent years, Stephen’s popularity as a speaker has nearly eclipsed his reputation as a bestselling author. He is often to be found addressing a university gathering, a corporate retreat or a fundraising banquet and stirring his audience with the humor and storytelling that have become his trademark.

Mansfield lives primarily in Nashville, Tennessee, with his beloved wife, Beverly, who is an award-winning songwriter and producer. For more information, log onto MansfieldGroup.com.

Reviews

[Mat Rueter · Rating 3 out of 5]

War forces a definition of belief. (Not all wars are shoot em up battles)

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. What Mansfield describes as the ideal warrior ethos was the one I grew up with and which clearly meshed one's spiritual worldview with temporal duty, honor, and country. This book was written in 2005 and in late 2018 we can see how much things have deteriorated, expecially in post modern America. His point: "These four elements of a warrior code - the commitment to wage only just wars, the commitment to justice in the conduct of war, the creation of a holy and historical profession of arms, and the art of serving that profession with an 'artillery' of words -- are deparately needed..."

[Laura McAninch · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many thoughts I have on this book. The title implied this book about the faith of the American soldier would broadly encompass many past wars that the American soldier has been involved; however, it primarily emphasized the most recent war.

After reading "God in the Foxhole" by Charles W Sasser, I naively envisioned this book to be a nice complement to it, with first hand stories of soldiers at war and how their faith sustained them. This book, instead, was written in a more scholarly, not nearly as relatable, tone.

Opinions aside, any book that delves into faith and support of our soldiers deserves attention (and at a minimum three star rating).

[Mel]

Very thought provoking. I'll need to write a more detailed review when I have more time

[JHM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book for me. While I appreciated the insights into the faith experiences of the men and women of the US military -- particularly those serving in Iraq -- the author's personal evangelical faith and his vision of what kind of faith *should* provide the underpinnings for US warriors is in conflict with my own.

I can think of few greater faith challenges than that of being a soldier in war. I wish this book had spent less time trying to prescribe what that faith should be and more time exploring the complexity of the issues. I'd also like to see a book which pays more than lip service to non-Christian faiths.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author spent time with many soldiers and marines, most of them so young and with very little or no idea of what faith is all about but who are now quickly and desperately grasping for it. He witnessed a lot of faith-laced moments with these "warriors" and writes about a code of honor that could save a nation. Sadly, because the code of honor seems to be as fractured as the faith of the nation there are sinful horrors such as Abu Ghraib.
Very good, with helpful references to history, events and individuals.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good book, and mostly interesting book all about the title! Mr.Mansfield mainly focuses on the present-day soldiers, and what they're religious life is, typically. I found it a good source of information about soldiers today. There are a few delicate/adult subjects - I recommend it for ages 17+

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would really like to rate this at 3.5. I thought the book was interesting and brought up some interesting scenarios, especially of the role of the chaplain. I appreciated how he explained what an awkward position we have put our soldiers in by taking away a moral cause. I'm glad I read this book.

[Andrew]

This is a pretty interesting book on the history and current status of religion in America's military.

[Dionne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book.

[Kevin Dudley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good look into the faith struggles servicemen deal with while at war.

[J]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11826112

[Sherri Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book and it is too bad that high school kids don't have to read this. It may give the country something to believe in again.