Buckle on War and Religion (1940)

From the October 1940 issue of the Socialist Standard

“Whatever religion may be in the ascendant, the influence of its ministers is invariably strengthened by a long and dangerous war, the uncertainty of which perplex the minds of men, and induce them, when natural resources are failing, to call on the supernatural for help. On such occasions the clergy rise in importance; the churches are more than usually filled ; and the priest, putting himself forward as the exponent of the wishes of God, assumes the language of authority, and either comforts the people under their losses in a righteous cause, or else he explains to them that those losses are sent to them as a visitation for their sins, and as a warning that they have not been sufficiently attentive to their religious duties ; in other words they have neglected rites and ceremonies in the performance of which the priest himself has a personal interest.”—(“History of Civilisation in England,” Vol. 3, p. 34. World’s Classics Edition.)