Chaplains– clergy attached to a secular institution including hospitals, prisons, embassies, schools, labor unions, police departments, fire departments, universities, intelligence agencies, airports, and military services - play a unique and meaningful role in the American landscape. These are ordained clergy who minister to members of the chaplain’s particular faith, to facilitate ministry to those of other faiths, and to care for all – including those who claim no religious faith. In this episode we are going to hear what Vietnam war chaplains teach us about religion, war, and the American project.

It is our hope that by the end of this episode, each of us will be equipped to be more effective stewards of religion’s role in the ongoing American experiment in self-government.

Season 4, Episode 10: American Chaplaincy – Part 2

Guest Bio

Professor Jacqueline Whitt is Chief Learning Officer for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Director of the Organizational Learning Unit (OLU) in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the Department of State. She is the author of Bringing God to Men: American Military Chaplains, Religion, and the Vietnam War.

Podcast Support

Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo.

Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of what religion has done to America and what America has done to religion.