Reviews

““Enlisting Faith” deserves to be read by anyone interested in an underexplored aspect of the intersection of religion and the state or, even more, in the stories of those who honorably served them both.”
— Marc M. Arkin,  The Wall Street Journal

“Her focal point, military chaplains, is ingeniously obvious, an important subject that has been overlooked while hiding in plain sight. The chaplaincy has had its chroniclers, to be sure, but for the most part they have not used chaplains to examine broader historical trends. By contrast, while Stahl narrates the history of the chaplaincy on its own terms, she also uses it as a means to a larger end. The beautifully written result is a definitive history of military chaplains in the twentieth century and also a penetrating analysis of religion and public life in the modern United States.”
— Andrew Preston, Journal of Church and State

“Expertly, with deep research and great stories…[Stahl] charts the course of the military chaplaincy from WWI (when the current chaplain system effectively was institutionalized) to the present… A supremely important, well-executed work of scholarship, sure to have wide influence.”
— Paul Harvey, CHOICE

“Ronit Stahl’s book is a thoughtful and well-researched account of a singular religious institution, the military chaplaincy, that has weathered a century of profound social change…[she] writes with considerable literary flair…Perhaps the greatest value of this book is that it shows us how the U.S. military has been a social laboratory for many decades, thanks in large part to its seemingly innocuous and oft overlooked chaplains.”
— Michael Peterson, The Strategy Bridge

“Enlisting Faith is rich in detail and replete with fascinating stories… Largely owing to Stahl’s meticulous primary source research, one could hardly hope for a better single volume on the history of the chaplaincy and its impact on American life. Clear and concise writing, an array of photographs, and an attractive dust jacket will make this book a popular choice, both for scholars of military and religious history and for lay readers with an interest in the unusual but highly influential institution.”
— John Young, H-Net War

“I am impressed with the work. Great detail. The book addresses many of the gaps in my own knowledge of the history and I am a retired Army chaplain.”
— @CityLiturgyGuy on Twitter