The Faith of the American Soldier

by Stephen Mansfield

Book Overview

What goes through the mind of an American warrior spiritually and religiously when facing the enemy? Treading where few books have gone, The Faith of the American Soldier examines the religious and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585424072
• ISBN13: 9781585424078
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.6" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

God is not dead

Stephen Mansfield's work provides a series of interviews with Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist believers, who are not only young, arguably the so-called Generation X, but also serving in Iraq. What he uncovers is that while many of today's youth, very possibly those who are not in foxholes, but in college in the US as well, are disenchanted with many of the institutionalized forms of religion and the failings of those religions. However, these young people are still seeking and finding faith. Mansfield's work is not simply religious, but creates a cultural picture of today's newest generation in their 20s having a real desire for ethic, moral and spiritual direction. Many of the individual anecdotes are powerful. And the book overall inspires me with a sense of pride and admiration and hope for the next generation of Americans. This book in many ways is the counter point to much of writing saying we have lost our ethos and have embraced materialism too enthusiastically. Mansfield is able to show that not only are their no atheists in fox holes, but more importantly that these young people do not believe blindly, but search their souls seeking universal and eternal truths. It's an educational, enlightening and inspiring work. I highly commend it to you.

Revealing and Touching

This book is well written and a fast read. The author expresses the seniments of many concerning the youth produced by this nation; youth who are themselves the product of the WW2 baby boomers and the Viet Nam era flower children. It is with surprise, and great depth of feeling one discovers that our fighting youth are people of honor and depth, searching for a spiritual base on which to anchor their lives and souls. This reader espresses shame and regret that they are barred from companionship in battle circumstances with their chaplins which could, perhaps, give them the base they need. Hooray for our troops!!!!

A Book for Every Parent

"The Faith of the American Soldier" is an excellent description of the search for spirituality by today's young adults! Although the author uses American service people as the basis of his analysis, the "search for spirituality" by all young adults is very similar. The non-military personell do not necessarily have the crises thrust upon them like the military, but the search is the same. I have recommended the book to my two children who have sons in the military. I also plan to give my copy to our pastor as I believe he will find it useful in understanding and dealing with young adults.

Was He Looking for What he Found

It is an interesting time for religion in the United States. On the one hand we have the fundamentalist Christian right wing that would like to think that theirs is the dominant religion in the country. And on the other we have the fact that fewer and fewer people are attending church regularly. The left wing, seems to be ashamed to mention religion in any way. While again, most Americans report that they are not without faith of some kind. In this book the author goes looking for a faith on the part of the soldiers we have in the Middle East. Obviously he finds it. What I don't know, and can't determine from reading between the lines is any percentages, any numbers of the faithful vs. the non. Having written the book "The Faith of George W. Bush" this author seems to be seeking confirmation of his own thoughts. I find the book quite interesting, but am not so sure it is unbiased.

No Athiests in Foxholes?

Mansfield is a historian by training, a Christian by conviction, and wordsmith by gifting. In "Faith of the American Soldier" he combines these to produce an engrossing and thought-provoking collection of personal war time accounts. It's beautifully written while providing gut-wrenching glimpses into the ways battle affects the human soul. An amazing book. Parts of it will stay with me for a long, long time.