We have previously seen Rev. John Hagee and his rather twisted sense of the divine (here and here). Now it appears that he is turning to military history and explaining how prayer and fasting clearly ended the civil war. Hagee was introduced recently by Glenn Beck as “a prophet of our times” and sat enraptured as Hagee explained how Lincoln was able to bring an end to the civil war with a day of prayer and fasting.
Hagee told Beck’s viewers:
The thing that brought the Civil War, in my mind, to an end, was that Abraham Lincoln called for a day of fasting and prayer for the whole nation… and it was approved by the Senate and there was a specific day that he called all of the people of America to pray…
The nation was ripped apart by hatred as brother fought brother and father fought son but, when this man, this godly man, this man whose speeches are laced with bible verses, got down and asked our nation to pray, suddenly, things began to happen that brought the Union together and Robert E. Lee had the grace to surrender a battle that couldn’t be won, and the Union was preserved.
The problem is that the Day of Prayer was on March 30, 1863 and Lee did not surrender until April 9, 1865.
It is of course a bit unclear how the day of prayer March 30, 1863 ended the civil war . . . two years later.
There were a few events between March 30, 1863 and April 9, 1865 that might be relevant in ending the war. These include Gettysburg (July 1, 1863), Vicksburg (July 4, 1863), Battle of Chickamauga (September 19, 1863), Battle of the Wilderness (May 4, 1865), Battle of Spotsylvania (May 8, 1864), the Battle of Petersburg (Apr 2, 1865), Fall of Richmond (Apr 2, 1865), the Burning of Atlanta (Sep 2, 1864), Sherman’s March to the Sea (Nov 15, 1864), the Fall of Nashville (Dec 15, 1864), the fall of Savannah (Dec. 21, 1864), and the Thirteenth Amendment ending slavery (Jan. 31, 1865). Those small events after the the day of prayer may have had a marginal impact on Lee’s decision ultimately surrender. By the way, just in case you thought Lee only had defeats after the day of prayer in 1863, Hagee might want to visit the battlefields at places like Chancellorsville (May 1, 1863).
Hagee’s theory reminds me of the scene in “Men Who Stare At Goats” when the character Larry Hooper gives Lyn Cassady the Dim Mak or death touch, which will kill him decades in the future.
It is fascinating to religious leaders like Hagee rewriting history to explain how the power of prayer — and indeed their own implied power — actually turning world events as if the confederates lacked the power of prayer or faith. It also ignores the disconnect in claiming the power of prayer to end the war but apparently not to influence Lee (a deeply religious man). It also suggests that God was just waiting for a sufficient number of prayers and a resolution approved by the United States Senate to set events in motion to end the war . . . years (and hundreds of thousands of deaths) later. Lee then “had the grace” to end the war two years later. Under this same logic, the opening prayer before FDR’s declaration of war in Congress on December 8, 1941 ultimately ended World War II on September 2, 1945.
Psycho Christians and the media
Why the press gives McCain a pass for consorting with batshit holy men, but condemns Obama to talk-show hell for the same sin.
By Gary Kamiya
May 20, 2008
http://www.salon.com/2008/05/20/hagee_4/
Excerpt:
John McCain has some seriously screwed-up holy men surrounding him. First, there’s the Rev. John Hagee, a hate-monger and certifiable loon who believes that Hurricane Katrina was God’s judgment on New Orleans for planning a gay parade, calls Catholicism a “false cult system” that conspired with Hitler to exterminate the Jews, and believes that America’s divine duty is to destroy Iran…
“The problem is that the Day of Prayer was on March 30, 1863 and Lee did not surrender until April 9, 1865.”
The problem is Hagee thinks it’s the 1800s. All this science stuff and modern technology is just a passing fad. Soon we will return to blind faith in Hagee and Company, all will be well. 🙂 Forever and ever…AhChoo !!!
Ralph–
I am a Leftist.
I do not hate Israel.
I do not consider Hagee my leader in ANYTHING.
Ralph,
once again the facts mean nothing to you. Wouldn’t American Jews be the largest pro-Israel group in the USA?
Wait–wait–
I know how the fast and prayer day made the war end two years later: HE WAS THREATENING TO DO IT AGAIN IF EVERYBODY DIDN’T IMMEDIATELY STOP THEIR FUSSING AND END THE WAR!!!
That’s LEADERSHIP!
Of course, the real reason that the Leftists hate Pastor Hagee is that he is a leader of the largest pro-Israel group in the USA. How dare he do that, the Leftists cry out. And, of course, Leftists hate Israel and those Joos who are advancing science, medicine, and the arts. But that goes without saying.
Facts, schmacks, he’s a man of God and the ultimate keeper of truth and wisdom. Just like cardinals who protect pedophiles. Didn’t you all get the memo?
Dredd:
“The bitter Army.”
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Actually Sheridan and his troops were in a pretty good mood. It was he who famously said, ““If I owned Hell and Texas I would rent out Texas and live in Hell.” Good man!
Theses idiots used to be amusing when they were on the fringe but now that they are running for office or advising those who do it is frightening. This is what’s theocracy looks like and it is not pretty.
Frankly 1, October 1, 2012 at 9:43 am
Funny how God is always on the side with the better Army.
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The bitter Army.
Frankly:
“Funny how God is always on the side with the better Army.”
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Well, He is a master tactician. See Jericho, Battle of.
Funny how God is always on the side with the better Army.
Certainly it was prayer! That, and Sheridan’s cavalry and the II aand VI Corps at Sayler’s Creek
No. Lincoln was a Republican, but back in his time, the parties were the polar opposites of what they are now. That shift in polarity was largely a result of the Civil War.
Lincoln was a RINO.
One just doesn’t know where the spiritual delusion ends and the dementia begins with some of these people.
Gene, good choice 🙂
The lunatic establishment is more of a danger than the lunatic fringe.
They are high on mythadream in more ways than one.
If I recall Lincoln and Mary Todd were spiritualist….. But so we’re lots of folks then….. They’d not be accepted, in my opinion in the churches of the almighty offering of the dollar….
Well, he has a certain point. The fasting that the Union provided for the traitorous Bastids probably help convince them to give up owning humans and join civilize society.