Past Lecturers

Dr. George C. Rable holds the Charles G. Summersell Chair in Southern history at the University of Alabama.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Bluffton College, his Masters and Doctoral degrees from Louisiana State University.  Dr. Rable is the recipient of multiple scholarly awards and is a well-known writer of Civil War history.  His “God’s Almost Chosen Peoples”: A Religious History of the American Civil War was the Museum’s book choice for those attending the Symposium, in April of 2015. His forthcoming Damn Yankees! Demonization and Defiance in the confederate South is eagerly awaited.  Dr. Rable’s Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! Received both the Lincoln Prize and the Douglas Southall Freeman History Award.

The title of this presentation is “God as General: Was There a Religious History of the “American Civil War?” Dr. Rable examines how Americans used religious faith to interpret the causes, course, and consequences of the war, Soldiers and civilians, ministers and politicians often discussed everything from Union to emancipation to particular battles in religious terms.  He points out that “Themes of sin, providence and judgement are essential for understanding how Americans viewed the greatest crisis in American history.”