Onward, Christian soldier : the religious mind of the American World War II soldier, 2007

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Pel

Identifier: b2089958

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate History program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations Publishing website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2007

Creator

Pellegrino, Nicholas (1981- ) (Author, Person)
DeRosa, Christopher S. (Thesis advisor, Person)
Parkin, Katherine J. (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 94 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpts]

The fundamental goal of this study is to understand how soldiers viewed organized religion, as well as theism in general, amidst the horrors of the Second World War. Although it is exceedingly difficult to enter into the spiritual minds of men, particularly minds from sixty-five years ago, the historical record left ample evidence from which historians may reach a more lucid understanding of this subject. Despite my presuppositions concerning soldiers' religous faiths during the inchoate stages of this study, one finds more variety regarding religious experiences and beliefs than some of the more frequently studied elements of combat behavior. Theologian Willard Sperry argued that by examining a man's religious beliefs, one leaves the historical field and begins to poach on the ground of psychologists. I have attempted to avoid this hazard wherever possible, while still trekking towards the stated objective.

Partial Contents

Introduction -- Callusing the religious mind ; justification of wartime violence -- Preparation for combat : prayer and church before battle -- Finding God : the circumstantial natuure of foxhole piety -- Hedging bets : church attendence and prayers of gratitude -- Divine intervention : fatalism, lucky charms, and good graces -- Troop attitudes towards faith : the devout and the disbelieving -- Religio-secular dilemma : chaplains adjust to military life -- An untapped spring : the chaplain-soldier relationship -- The story behind the numbers : statistical evaluation of wartime spirituality.