The Civil War & Southern Belief Systems

The Civil War affected the way of life in America in many areas – political, economic and religious. The way Americans viewed each other and life in general changed after 1865. The fact that it was a war of Christians against Christians was nothing new. . . The thing that was different in this case was that the Christians on both sides were Americans before and after the Civil War. During the Civil War, both sides believed in the same Jesus and prayed to same God for victory.

Northern and Southern Christians were assured from their respective pulpits that their cause was just and righteous. How would the religious leaders of the South explain the loss to their members?

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