Solace but for exhortations to fight. Such scripture helped amateur soldiers overcome their natural aversion to killing, conferred on those who died for the revolution the halo of martyrdom and he gave americans a sense of the Divine Providence of their calls. In this session dr. Byrd will examine specific biblical texts aened how they were umaking the patriotic case for war. James byrd is associate professor of american religious history at vanderbilt university. His latest book is sacred scripture, sacred war. Hes currently working on a book on the bible and the american civil war. Please join me in welcoming dr. Byrd. [ applause ] well, thank you, im so pleased to be here and to be joining in this important conversation at the museum of the bible. Im very honored to be sharing the podium with the two scholars ive admired for years and i especially thank the team here at the museum of the bible rm, all of you for putting this together. Im just very honored to be participating. My foc