Was the Great War a Holy War?

Was “The Great War” a holy war?  Noted historian Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History at Baylor University, joins us to discuss the spiritual overtones and undertones of World War I and that conflict’s impact on our contemporary religious landscape.  While most historians have focused on secular and materialist explanations for the war’s outbreak and progression, Prof. Jenkins points out the blind spot his profession has had to the spiritual dimensions of the “war to end all wars.”

We begin our discussion with a general survey of World War I’s causes and why historians have emphasized materialistic explanations.  It doesn’t take long before Philip is relaying the dense theological imagery and language that set the tone for this war.  We also discuss the general spiritual milieu of the times, noting that even though industrialization and urbanization were churning along at a rapid pace, and secular ideologies were all the rage, it was a time of great spiritual ferment.  Particularly in Germany and Russia, there were strong messianic tones to the language of politics and military affairs.  It was a time of a “culture war” that pitted secular critics against state churches, and orthodox theologies against newer and more esoteric faiths, such as the theosophy.  While scholars have overlooked this, Philip notes that the evidence for this was hiding in plain sight.  He notes how many important figures of the time (e.g., Generals Ludendorff and von Moltke) were heavily influenced by spiritualism, be it more traditional Christianity or notions of the occult.