Military Chaplaincy in an Era of Religious Pluralism

Present-day militaries are often microcosms of the societies that maintain them. Unsurprising then that the armed forces have to come to terms with the question of religion, a subject that has increasingly become of importance in modern nation states. At the very heart of these connections between the armed forces, religion, and society is the institution of military chaplaincy. Acting as spiritual guides, military chaplains contribute to war efforts by espousing the legitimacy of state violence and preserving the mental health of soldiers. Their role in performing the last rites of the fallen is also of paramount importanceThrough cross-cultural analysis and taking into account the diversities of military chaplaincies, this volume examines how they mirror societal attitudes towards the armed forces and also contribute in shaping them. Comparing the varied cultural and political contexts of the USA, India, Slovenia, South Korea, Japan, and many other countries, the book takes a pioneering step towards broadening the horizons of existing scholarship in this field.