Religion, war can be a risky combination

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'Stonewall' Jackson's Civil War single-mindedness could offer cautionary tale for current Middle East conflict. By Michael Zitz

Date published: 6/25/2005

'I WOULD BET that he [`Stonewall Jackson'] would have wanted to take Baghdad in 21 hours--not 21 days.' Michael

AUBRECHT

MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Michael Aubrecht (left) is the author of 'Onward Christian Soldier: The Spiritual Journey of Stonewall.'

By Michael Zitz

FAITH AND fearlessness are admirable traits.

But they also can be dangerous.

Both Osama bin Laden and President Bush believe they have been chosen by God to carry out his will on Earth.

A Spotsylvania County man who is the author of a book about spirituality and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson says religious conviction can become a double-edged sword in time of war.

Michael Aubrecht is the author of the 2005 book, "Onward Christian Soldier: The Spiritual Journey of Stonewall" (Pinstripe Press, 75 pages, $11.95 online).

A companion volume, titled "Christian Cavalier," about Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, will be released this fall.

Aubrecht is currently working on a fictional Civil War book, "Battlefield Believers," that's being illustrated by Christian artist Vicki Talley McCollum.

He lives in the Massaponax area and attends Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church.

"Religion has always played a part in every major conflict, whether for good or evil," Aubrecht said. "Faith in one's God can provide a great sense of strength and comfort to soldiers and civilians, but it can also be distorted for the justification of aggression and atrocity. It can be a blessing as well as a danger.

"I like to think that our leaders have the best of intentions and believe they are doing the right thing at the time.

"Sometimes this proves to be true and sometimes it doesn't."

Aubrecht said most believers feel they have a purpose, and that the meaning of life is to discover and fulfill that purpose.

"This should always be done for the betterment of mankind, but sometimes it backfires," Aubrecht said. "My own definition of 'human nature' includes mankind's innate ability to foul things up. I think one of our most important tasks is to learn from our own mistakes."

Jackson was fearless on the battlefield because he believed God had predetermined his fate.

Date published: 6/25/2005