A holy baptism of fire and blood : the Bible and the American Civil War / James P. Byrd.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Byrd, James P., 1965- author.

Series:

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible--Study and teaching--United States--History--19th century.

Bible.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Religious aspects--Christianity.

United States.

United States--Religion--19th century.

United States--Religious life and customs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (392 pages).

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : Oxford University Press, [2021]

Summary:

In this text, James Byrd offers a thorough analysis of how Americans, North and South, enlisted scripture to fight the Civil War. As Byrd reveals in this insightful narrative, no book was more important to the conflict than the Bible. From Massachusetts to Mississippi and beyond, the Bible was the nation's most read and respected book, and each side enlisted it in arguments over slavery, secession, patriotism, authority, white supremacy, and violence. 'A Holy Baptism of Fire and Blood' draws on an astonishing array of sources to demonstrate the many ways that Americans enlisted the Bible in the nation's bloodiest, and arguably most biblically-saturated conflict.

Contents:

"His terrible swift sword"

"The stone which the builders rejected"

"The Red Sea of war"

"This second war I consider equally as holy as the first"

"A covenant of death"

"Trust in Providence and keep your powder dry"

"A holy baptism of fire and blood"

"Welcome to the ransomed"

"Without shedding of blood is no remission"

"The sword of the lord"

"We cannot escape history"

"Of one blood all nations"

"These dead have not died in vain"

"Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood"

"Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh"

"Baptized in the blood of their president"

Epilogue. "Pyrotechnics of providence."

Notes:

Also issued in print: 2021.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-090281-7

0-19-090282-5

0-19-090280-9