How does religion shape the modern battlefield? Ron E. Hassner proposes that
religion acts as a force multiplier, both enabling and constraining military
operations. This is true not only for religiously radicalized fighters but also
for professional soldiers. In the last century, religion has influenced modern
militaries in the timing of attacks, the selection of targets for assault, the
zeal with which units execute their mission, and the ability of individual
soldiers to face the challenge of war. Religious ideas have not provided the
reasons why conventional militaries fight, but religious practices have
influenced their ability to do so effectively.
In Religion on the Battlefield, Hassner focuses on