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In 1861, a deeply devout nation went to war. Religion was a pervasive influence on politicians, soldiers and civilians alike on both sides of the conflict, yet the role of faith is often overlooked in discussions of Civil War history. In conjunction with the 150th Anniversary of the Church of St. Mary, founded ten years after the conclusion of the War, Rev. Robert J. Miller, will discuss his ecumenical analysis of the spiritual landscape of the nation before, during and after the struggle. While many volumes have been written covering the American Civil War, few have shined a light on the role of faith before, during and after the fighting. Rev. Robert J. Miller’s comprehensive study focuses on the pervasive religious undercurrent of American society during this period. The faithful in both the North and the South used religion in their justifications over slavery. The perspectives of Protestants, Catholics, Jews, clergy, soldiers, civilians, slaves and free people are collected here, adding to an understanding of the complex set of events that surround America’s deadliest conflict. Robert J. Miller is a recently retired Catholic priest with 50 years of ministry, most recently at St. Dorothy Church on Chicago’s south side (previously Holy Angels and St. Joachim Church). Rev. Miller is also a Civil War scholar, holding offices on the Chicago Civil War Roundtable since 2003, culminating in his presidency of the organization in 2005-2006. A specialist in the role of religion and chaplains during the Civil War, Rev. Miller has written eight books on spirituality and history, his most recent is Faith of the Fathers: The Comprehensive Study of Catholic Civil War Chaplains, released in 2025 by Notre Dame Press. He remains a popular speaker and lecturer lecturer around the Midwest in areas of spirituality, Scripture, Faith and Civil War religion. BOTH PRAYED TO THE SAME GOD and his most recent book FAITH OF THE FATHERS will be available for purchase at the event