Here are some excerpts from the online-discussion over 'God and the Confederacy' that I am currently participating in with a lovely African-American educator from Richmond who is working on a book. As a courtesy, I am only posting excerpts from our talk. (She is “K” and I am “M”):

K: ...my purpose is to open a dialogue with you. I am neither bitter nor offended by the ideals of the Confederacy. To many, of course, the Confederacy is synonymous with slavery. Although slavery was a significant part of the culture and the economy of the pre-Civil War South, obviously the Confederacy was and is about so much more. Quite honestly, I am grieved by divisions in the Lord's body. While interests and perspectives may differ, we share Christ and all His benefits.

K: I believe my first visit to the Museum of the Confederacy was in the early 90's.The presentation and historical interpretation awakened me to a perspective I had not heard previously. I began to understand how the end of slavery as an institution involved more than just the freedom of a people. I began to think from the perspective of someone whose lifestyle, economic status, etc. was based on the benefits of what essentially was free labor. In addition to my parents being business owners, I was a business major. So, I understood the cost of labor and how free labor is a significant economic benefit.

K: I began to think about people as creatures of habit. I thought of how resistant people are to change. I realized that throughout time people have been willing to fight to maintain lifestyle and ideals that are important to them. I began to see the people who were the Confederacy as normal people who were taught principles, etc. by which to live. I actually put myself in their shoes, and asked myself "what would I have done if my entire way of life and everything I knew were threatened?"

K: The result: the Confederacy as an idea wasn't so offensive to me anymore. Again, this was the early 90's when I was in college. Over the years, as my Christianity evolved into an intimate walk with the Lord, I was able to categorize the moral conflict as sin. I realized that racism and prejudice on any front are not our country's primary evils. Sin is the primary evil and, of course, there is no degree in sin. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is the reproach. ...Thank God for Jesus.  He died for the sins of racism and prejudice, too.

M: I think that much of the antebellum South's attitude in regards to the institution of slavery can be blamed on how white Christians were raised from generation to generation in the Slave-States. These 'skewed' perceptions and social 'misconceptions' were a big factor in the propagation of racism that plagued the 18th-19th-and early 20th centuries. Simply stated, if someone was raised from birth to believe that another group of people were inferior and therefore justifiably sentenced to a life of servitude, and all they saw in their lives was examples of this (reinforced by the fact that these people were not allowed to learn to read, write, or intellectually better themselves), what else could they think?

M: Ultimately, they were raised with a superiority complex. Of course the South’s dependency on slave-labor is another factor, but I am strictly presenting what I believe to be a way of thinking that enabled the institution of bondage to not only continue, but be practiced by Christians who otherwise would not have if not for their upbringing. This unfortunate way of raising children still happens today in hate groups and false-religions.

M: Someone had to break that cycle in order to challenge the misconception about blacks and for many believers in the South that mindset was extremely deep-rooted. I believe that many Christians around the country knew that the institution in itself was sinful, but also believed that the Bible sanctioned it. As Christians, many did not challenge it, but showed compassion by teaching their slaves to read the scriptures and allowing them to worship.

M: I was very surprised to find out (as I was researching my 4th book on the historical churches of Fredericksburg) that all of our churches here were originally integrated. Yes, the freed and slave blacks did have a separate entrance and seating area, but they were there, together as both white and black children of God, celebrating the glory of the same deity, reading the same Bible, and learning the same wisdom of the Holy Word. (When the Civil War started - the split in these churches occurred - and it took decades to 'fix' the divide.)

M: As a devout Presbyterian, my core belief is that all life is pre-ordained, meaning God has already determined the length of our lives, as well as the purpose of each of us being here. He works and uses everything according to His purpose, not ours. My favorite verse is Romans 8:28, which states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

M: Therefore, God 'allows' these trials to happen whether it is slavery (or worse) for reasons that are far beyond our earthly-comprehension. As an All-powerful and Omni-present-Being, surely God can do anything and everything. You have to believe that He could have stopped slavery, but didn't. In other words, the institution was pre-ordained. So was Nat Turner's Rebellion, Jackson's untimely death, the assasination of Lincoln ...etc. WE are the sinners who carry out these atrocities, but God 'lets' us.

M: Why? I don't know. Suffering is something that man does not willingly endure easily, yet somehow the Lord used this for the greater good. That is the perspective (IMO) that many spiritual Southerner’s shared. The Civil War that killed over 600,000 people and the resulting freedom that later came to those held in captivity was also pre-ordained. From the Emancipation Proclamation to the burning of Atlanta - meaning all of the good and the bad - it was (and still is) all part of God's Divine Plan..

K: I must say that primarily I agree with your perspective on this. I honor God for how He was able to introduce Christ to Africans through what I believe was an intended evil by the adversary of our souls. What is most intriguing to me is how deep rooted the issues are, not just with White Americans, but also with African-Americans. II Corinthians 5 is clear regarding the newness of our nature in Christ Jesus. We have been commanded to know no man by the flesh. I honor what my ancestors did to gain rights and freedoms for me. However, I am careful to keep even that in the correct perspective. They were empowered by the God I serve. I honor them, because honor is due to them. God, however, gets all the glory for the mighty way in which He delivered a people who were in bondage. Moreover, our Godly heritage that we have gained access to by the blood of Jesus is so much higher than any earthly heritage - and the rewards are far better!

K: I am concerned for the heart condition of African-American Christians who are still bitter and have not forgiven the sins associated with slavery and deep seeded racism. I want my book to minister forgiveness and healing in this area. 

This is just a taste of our discussion and I have recommended that she read Richard William’s book on Jackson’s Slave Sabbath School in order to get some additional perspective on the idea of spreading the Gospel to everyone in order to point them on the path toward eternal salvation. Without it, their souls would have been lost. Stay tuned for more on this enlightening conversation.

Let the Press Releases begin!

Patriot Press to publish The Southern Cross: A Civil War Devotional
Patriot Press, a Gettysburg, Pa.-based publisher will release "The Southern Cross: A Civil War Devotional" in March, 2008. The book, penned by Virginia author Michael Aubrecht, will feature fifty inspirational, true stories about faith under fire during the War Between the States. Styled after a Civil War Devotional, the book contains 40 vignettes, 10 encouraging essays, 5 period-sermons, 50 photos, and an index. As with most works in this genre, each chapter covers a specific virtue of the Christian soldier: Courage, Duty, Faith, Honor, and Mercy, and each segment contains: a period photo, topical verse of scripture, an associated quote, and an inspirational story of faith under fire. The book will be available through www.patriotpressbooks.com, www.pinstripepress.net, Internet retailers and bookstores everywhere. (Contact: Traci Lower: email: info@patriotpressbooks.com, phone: 717-642-6836)

Reaping the Whirlwind: The Battle of Gettysburg
March 28 – 30, 2008

On March 28-30, 2008 Liberty University will present its 12th annual Civil War Seminar. This year's program is titled Reaping the Whirlwind: The Battle of Gettysburg. Featured speakers and performers include:

Dr. Brenda Ayres is a Professor of English at Liberty University who founded its Victorian Society and whose publications  include Dissenting Women in Dickens' Novels; Miss Gusta, or, the Victorian Mobilian; The Life and Works of Augusta Jane Evans Wilson; Silence Voices: Forgotten Novels by Victorian Women Writers; and The Social Problem Novels of Frances Trollope.

Kent Masterson Brown is a practicing attorney with law offices in Lexington, KY, and Washington, DC, whose books include Retreat From Gettysburg: Lee, Logistics and the Pennsylvania Campaign, Cushing of Gettysburg: The Story of a Union Artillery Commander, and The Civil War in Kentucky: Battle for the Bluegrass State.

Dr. Tom Desjardin served as the historical advisor for Jeff Daniels who portrayed Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the motion picture Gettysburg.  His books include Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign, Joshua L. Chamberlain: A Handbook, and These Honored Dead: How the Story of Gettysburg Shaped American Memory.

Reverend Alan Farley is a co-founder and the director of Reenactor’s Mission for Jesus Christ and appears all over the nation portraying a CSA chaplain at Civil War reenactments and living histories and is the co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of the National Civil War Chaplains Research Center and Museum.

Dr. Brad Gottfried has had a long career in higher education, beginning as a faculty member and is the current president of The College of Southern Maryland. His books include The Maps of Gettysburg, Brigades to Gettysburg, The Roads to Gettysburg, and The Battle of Gettysburg: A Guided Tour. He has also published numerous magazine articles on the battle.

Drs. Darlene and Michael Graves are Professors of Communication at Liberty University. In addition to their teaching in the M.A. program at Liberty, they have respectively written for and co-edited Precious Memories: The Rhetoric of Southern Gospel Music. For the 2006 LU Civil War Seminar they produced a dramatic reading of excerpts from Rod Gregg’s From Fields of Fire and Glory: Letters of the Civil War.

Troy Harmon has been a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park since 1989 and has served at numerous national parks such as Appomattox Court House National Historic Park and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. His works include Lee’s Real Plan at Gettysburg and Cemetery Hill: The General Plan was Unchanged.

Jerry Markham is a veteran Civil War reenactor who is the captain of the 11th VA, Company G, The Lynchburg Home Guard reenacting group, and is a historian whose works include The Botetourt Artillery, Confederate Veterans Buried in Hollywood Cemetery from Camp Lee Soldiers Home 1894-1946, and the Diuguid Records 1861–1865 and Biographical Sketches.

Ben Mariniak is a Civil War artifacts collector and authority on Union chaplains during the Civil War who lives in Buffalo, NY.

Dr. Brian Melton is an Assistant Professor of History at Liberty University and the author of Sherman’s Forgotten General: Henry W. Slocum and a number of scholarly articles and reviews that have appeared in professional journals and magazines. He has presented his research at various conferences, including the prestigious Southern Historical Association.

Dr. Ethan Rafuse is a member of the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College whose works  include McClellan's War: The Failure of Moderation in the Struggle for the Union,  George Gordon Meade and the War in the East, and A Single Grand Victory: The First Campaign and Battle of Manassas. He is also the author of two books that will appear later this year: Antietam: A Battlefield Guide and Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy, 1863-1865.

David Rider is a veteran Civil War reenactor who is the secretary of Company C 2nd Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters, based out of Gettysburg, PA, and is also captain of Huckstep's 1st Fluvanna artillery of the Longstreet’s Corps reenacting organization. In addition to doing volunteer work for the NPS at Gettysburg, he is also involved in the business side of his unit and maintains the Company’s Website at www.BerdanSharpshooters.com.

Delanie Stephenson is a veteran reenactor and a history teacher at Hopewell High School who wrote “Robert E. Lee Behind Closed Doors for The Citizen’s Companion.” In addition to these accomplishments, she has spoken to UDC, SCV, and community organizations on the life of Mildred Childe Lee.

The 2nd South Carolina String Band is a nationally renowned Civil War era musical group which uses authentic instruments and has appeared in Gods and Generals and on the soundtracks of Ken Burns’ PBS productions Jazz and Mark Twain. The band’s CD’s include Dulcem Melodies, High Cotton, and The Southern Soldier.

Richard G. Williams, Jr. is an author and a regular contributor to the Washington Times’ Civil War column whose works include Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend, The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen, and Christian Business Legends. He is also a co-producer of the recently released video Still Standing: The Stonewall Jackson Story and hosts the Old Virginia Blog.

Eric Wittenberg is a practicing attorney from Columbus, Ohio, and a prolific author whose works include Little Phil: A Reassessment of the Civil War Leadership of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Protecting the Flanks: The Battles for Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field, Battle of Gettysburg, July 2-3, 1863 , Plenty of Blame to Go Around:  Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg, and Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions.

Dr. Steven Woodworth, a two-time winner of the prestigious Fletcher Pratt Award, is Professor of History at Texas Christian University who specializes in the Civil War and Reconstruction. His books include Davis and Lee at War, Leadership and Command in the American Civil War, and Beneath a Northern Sky: A Short History of the Gettysburg Campaign.

In addition the Friday night banquet and the Saturday luncheon, both which will feature antebellum menus and entertainment, will be special door prizes and an exhibit of paintings depicting scenes from the Battle of Gettysburg. On Saturday there will be a period ball, featuring the music of the 2nd South Carolina String Band, in the Grand Lobby of DeMoss Hall, and on Sunday morning there will be a period church service held in the Whorley Prayer Chapel.

The event will be held in Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Everyone is encouraged to secure reservations for this seminar by Wednesday, March 26. Admission to the seminar is $55 (which includes all of the seminar sessions, the Friday night banquet, and Saturday’s luncheon). After March 26, 2008, the price for both days is $65. Admission to the Seminar for Friday only is $25; admission for Saturday only is $30.

Admission to the ball is $25/couple and $15/single. (Please note that boots or shoes with heel plates will not be permitted. This will be checked at the door. Please plan accordingly.) Make out checks to 'The 2008 Liberty University Civil War Seminar' and mail to the following address:

The Liberty University Civil War Seminar
c/o Dr. Cline Hall
History Department
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA 24502

Special lodging rates at the Days Inn of Lynchburg are available for those who will be attending the seminar. For pricing and location of lodging, call  434-847-8655. For special group pricing for the seminar or more information, call 434-592-4366 or email or klburdeaux@liberty.edu. Also, go to the website at www.liberty.edu/civilwar.

This Sunday after service I was able to see some of the promotional pieces that have been developed to help advertise Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church’s Community Lecture Series. This includes large graphically designed posters, speaker Bio handouts, and these wonderful ‘playbill’ cards that have the speakers and schedule on one side, and information about our church’s various beliefs and bible-study programs on the other.

The goal of this series, sponsored by our Adult Ministry, is to invite the general public in for non-religious lectures, with hopes that they will return at a later date for worship. It is a great idea to help boost membership without getting too preachy and it is a privilege an honor for me to be included on the bill with these nationally acclaimed speakers. When ‘my’ posters and handouts, are produced closer to my turn in April, I’ll be sure to post a copy here.

Although I am doing (and turning down) more and more talks here in Fredericksburg this one has the potential to be one of the largest audiences. Plus the fact that it will be taking place in my own church makes it extra special. I am hoping to have the event video-taped for posting on YouTube. Next Thursday evening (Jan. 31) begins the series and I will certainly be attending. Here is the official press announcement from The Free Lance-Star:

Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church will host a series of lectures by nationally known speakers. The first lecture in the series, "The Tragedy of Virginia Tech," will be presented by Dr. Roger Depue on Thursday, Jan. 31. Depue, one of eight experts appointed by Gov. Kaine to study the tragedy and make recommendations to prevent such crimes, is a 21-year veteran of the FBI and a former chief of the Behavioral Science Unit, made famous by the movie "The Silence of the Lambs." The lectures are free and will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. in the church sanctuary, 11121 Leavells Road, directly across from Battlefield Elementary School. Receptions and book signings will follow the lectures.

Today I received a very heartfelt and thought-provoking email from a female, African-American educator in Richmond who is currently conducting a study on “God and the Confederacy.” Her query was an offer to open up a dialogue between the both of us to discuss the faith of the South's Confederate heroes, as well as the spiritual dilemma surrounding secession, slavery, and how the Lord may have used them for His purpose.

Her email was very touching from one devout believer to another and she stated that: “While interests and perspectives may differ, we share Christ and all His benefits. As a Christian sister, I want to know your heart (my brother's heart) concerning the idea of any discrepancy between men of faith like Robert E. Lee; Stonewall Jackson; and J. E. B Stuart, fighting for the cause of the Confederacy while believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Needless to say I immediately wrote her a lengthy reply, offering my support in any way, and inviting her to initiate the discussion. I also explained that although I am primarily a Confederate historian, I am by no means an apologist and I fully recognize the moral conflict that existed in the hearts and minds of of these Christian soldiers.

The irony of this exciting project is that the teacher found me through another academic's blog that has been known to criticize my work from time-to-time. She was apparently impressed with the way that I defended myself as a Christian, and she tracked me down via Google. Obviously we were meant to connect, as I no longer visit that blog and/or participate in online debates anymore. Thank the Lord for ‘Archives.’

I’ll let you know how our conversations go and what spawns from it. It will be a blessing indeed to exchange opinions and perspectives, with a fellow believer. This is a perfect example how people of faith can come together across all social, political, and racial boundaries to learn more about each other’s point of view and ultimately become closer together in the Body of Christ. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: We have been sharing some very lengthy and insightful email conversations. I am hoping to quote some of them here in the near future. This discussion will be ongoing as time permits and I'll be sure to let you know what comes of it. She is looking at writing a book on this examination into how slavery and the Confederacy fit into the Lord's purpose.

Today is one of my favorite holidays of the year here in the Old Dominion. Short of our Founding Fathers (Washington, Jefferson, Madison), few Virginians have contributed more to their state’s legacy than Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson.

Celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the original holiday, created in 1889, honored Lee's birthday. Jackson's name was added to the holiday in 1904. Most government offices are closed today and many history and heritage organizations are holding special celebrations honoring two of the south’s favorite sons.

This evening I will be reading to my youngest children from several storybooks that introduce kid's to Civil War and Confederate history. One title is The Story of Robert E. Lee as well as a recent present from their grandparents titled The Story of Gettysburg. Both of these wonderful Christian books were written for very young children (3+) by Patricia Pingley and favor a religious/southern point of view.

"I can only say that I am a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation." - General Robert E. Lee

“Our God was my shield. His protecting care is an additional cause for gratitude.” - General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

The Southern Cross, a Civil War Devotional
by Michael Aubrecht, Foreword by Richard G. Williams Jr.
Spring 2008 (Patriot Press), 6x9. Softcover. 184 pages.
ISBN# 978-0-9796000-1-2

Now that the pages are at the proofer (en route to the printer), I can finally post a few samples.

As with works in this genre, each section covers a specific virtue and each page contains a relevant verse of Scripture, an associated quote and a short vignette on a related topic. I have defined five major categories that express the virtues of a Christian soldier. They are: Courage, Duty, Faith, Honor and Mercy. Each of these is illustrated by some of the most inspirational stories to come out of the Civil War. There are forty of these uplifting devotions, as well as ten encouraging essays that address some of the subject matter in greater detail. I have also included a special sermon that was presented to Confederate soldiers in the field. This impassioned speech reinforces the power of the prayer warrior.

Much like my previous Christian biographies were written to be both educational and inspirational, this book is also intended to serve a much greater purpose. Devotionals are extraordinary works and the life lessons and Scripture references that they contain can be reviewed again and again.

I hope and pray that the readers of this book will find something that touches them and stimulates a further interest in the reading of God's Word. This after all, is the foundation for the entire project, as well as my own prime directive. In fact, nothing would please me more than to know that someone put down my book and picked up the Holy Bible. Simply stated, the Lord has blessed me in so many ways and I want to share His grace and providence with you.

As a bonus, I have also enclosed a wonderful bible-study aid that will enable you to read the entire Good Book in one-year, cover-to-cover. A reading plan for 365-days of daily bread will enable the reader to apply the principles of these patriots in their own lives.

Sneak Peek Here (PDF)

I would be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge the untimely death of Chess Master Bobby Fischer. Bobby of course was a prodigy of epic proportions who later became an eccentric, anti-Semitic, and anti-American recluse, living abroad while hiding from the U.S. Government. Despite his fall from grace, there is no denying his impact on the “Game of Kings.” I for one am in awe of his infinite genius on the chessboard and prefer to remember him in his younger days. Fischer of course became a Cold War icon when he dethroned the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky as world champion in 1972. In his final years, Bobby railed against the chess establishment, alleging that the outcomes of many top-level chess matches were decided in advance.

For more, visit my favorite fan-site dedicated to Fischer’s playing days.

My friends over at Civil War Historian magazine’s Message Board directed me to a very impressive-looking graphic novel project that is underway depicting the controversial life of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne.

It is titled “CLEBURNE The Graphic Novel” and is being produced by Justin Murphy. After visiting the author’s mySpace page and viewing the scrollable interior thumbnails of the comic, I must say that I am VERY impressed. Civil War comics have disappointed me in the past, but this truly is a graphic novel of epic proportions.

According to Justin Murphy’s blog bio: The controversial and true story of Irish immigrant and Confederate General Patrick Cleburne and his plan to enlist slaves to fight for the South during the American Civil War. According to Cleburne’s proposal all African Americans who served the Confederacy as soldiers would receive their freedom upon enlistment. This was a revolutionary concept for its day and sent Cleburne’s life spiraling down a perilous road. Set during the critical year of 1864, and culminating in the bloody Battle of Franklin, CLEBURNE is a tale of unbeatable courage in the face of racism, conspiracy and war. CLEBURNE is a 200-page, full color Graphic Novel with a creative team that includes author & artist Justin Murphy (a 2006 award winning playwright at the New York International Fringe Festival), inker Al Milgrom (a Marvel Comics veteran who has worked on books like The Incredible Hulk & X Factor), and colorist J. Brown (Marvel Comic’s Civil War & Captain America). Upon publication date of November 2008 readers will be able to find CLEBURNE at their local comics shops and bookstores or online at: www.rampartpress.com.

I can’t wait to get a copy of what looks to be a highly original and wonderfully illustrated story of one of the south’s greatest patriots.

[Tip of the Hat to our good friend David Trimble over at Still On Patrol for bringing this extremely disturbing event to my attention.]

Apparently there is to be some kind of “Service of Repentance Over Slavery” scheduled to take place at the National Cathedral. This is, without question, one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever heard of. To even propose the notion that Christians living over 140 years after the institution of slavery should be attending a mass to repent for the sins of their ancestors is mind-boggling. Are they serious?

I thought that the public apologies over slavery that have been issued in recent years by former slave-state governments were a nice, but ultimately empty gesture on behalf of the ‘PC’ politicians. This however is a VERY different issue. To even propose the idea that repentance is required TODAY and that and the petition of such absolution should be attended to in a special church service is beyond ludicrous. What do WE (as in all of us) have to repent for?

PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME. To hold a special service at the country's premiere house of worship in order to pay homage to those who suffered the sins of bondage, and/or to recognize those who fought to end the institution of slavery is absolutely justified and acceptable, but to use the term ‘repentance’ as the foundation for such a service is another reason why so many people are becoming put-off by the reiteration of the slavery issue and wish that we could all just get over it.

Think about it folks... This is like telling John Wilkes Booth's ancestors that they need to ask forgiveness and do penance for Lincoln's assassination.

David speaks much better than I do on the subject: …how ridiculous is the notion of "repentance" over 140 years later, by people who had absolutely nothing to do with American slave trade or practices?  I find it absurdly ironic that the same portion of our society who refuses to allow the truth of our history be taught in the schools and who wants to sweep the American Civil war under a rug as if it never happened now also wants everyone to "repent" of slavery.  We cannot teach how many northerners made their fortune in the 18th-century slave trade, nor how terribly racist all of American society was, not just the South.  Our children remain largely ignorant of all, which transpired leading up to the Civil War and how dramatically all of that affected who we are today as a country and as a people.  And yet we ask people to feel guilt about what happened many generations in the past and "repent" of it?  Nonsense.

If modern America (and the church) wants to repent, I can think of a million other things that we should all be ashamed of - things that are occurring in our times, and being perpetrated by us – things that truly make us guilty and in need of absolution. Slavery is NOT one of them.