by John Longhurst
When
it comes to war, religion is often one of the first to enlist -- or be
conscripted. That was certainly true 200 years ago, during the War of 1812.
That
war, which ended with both sides claiming victory, will be the focus of many
commemorations, conferences, re-enactments and other events during this, its
200th anniversary.
As
a history buff -- and as someone who grew up near some of the old battlefields
in the Niagara region -- I've read a lot about the origins, strategies,
battles, heroes and outcomes of that conflict. But I can't recall ever hearing
anything about the role of religion during the war. What impact did it have?
A
big one, as it turns out, especially in the U.S.
