Religion Divided
Religion often provided comfort to communities during the war years. Both sides believed that God would protect those in battle. Yet, as the Civil War progressed individuals on both sides began to question whether their cause was divinely supported.
Such questioning prompted theological disagreements, primarily regarding slavery and its congruence with Christianity. Some who supported the Union viewed the war as divine punishment for slavery while those who supported the Confederacy believed that the institution was ordained by God.
The documents selected for this lesson highlight the struggles Kentuckians faced in rationalizing their religious faith with the question of slavery.
Grade Levels & Kentucky Teaching Standards
8th grade
8.H.CO.4
High School
HS.C.I.UE.2
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Chris Gehrz, “Recalibrating the ‘Evangelical Paradigm’” Patheos: The Anxious Bench. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/07/recalibrating-evangelical-paradigm/ *NOTE: This article does not directly relate to the civil war, but does allow readers to gain a better understanding of religion so they can teach it in their classroom.
Christine Leigh Heyrman, “Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt,” (Alfred A. Knopf, 1998).
Luke E. Harlow, Religion, Race, and the Making of Confederate Kentucky, 1830–1880. (Cambridge University Press, 2014).
Framing Questions
- Why was the Civil War a turning point for religion in the U.S.?
- How did soldiers connect their religion and their respective causes?
- What was the role of clergy and ministers during the war?
Terms for Discussion
Theology: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience.
Slavery: the practice or institution of holding people as chattel involuntarily and under threat of violence.
Evangelicalism: a subset of Christianity that emphasizes salvation by faith, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual.
Dogma: a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds.
Second Great Awakening: Protestant religious revival in the United States from about 1795 to 1835 that emphasized temperance, women’s emancipation, and anti-slavery.
Activities
Fishbowl
Have students participate in a classroom discussion with a panel of experts on each document. Refer to the downloadable version of this resource for more information.