Moral and Spiritual Injury are now internal wounds of war that impact not only warriors but also their families, communities, forces, and nations. The ongoing theater wars resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Iran’s proxy-led war with Israel bear this out, particularly as the threat of even larger future wars looms on the horizon of an unstable world. However, moral and spiritual injury—either for a person or for a nation— are not unsolvable; rather, their effects can be limited by an ethical renewal of values, principles, and beliefs, both for individuals and communities. Timothy Mallard, bringing to bear more than 30 years of experience as a U.S. Army chaplain and Christian ethicist, analyzes these problems in a fresh way, demonstrating that even such suffering is not irredeemable but can be a catalyst for newfound strength, resilience and growth.
About the Author:
Timothy Mallard is a Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Birmingham Theological Seminary and a Visiting Research Fellow at St. Chad’s College and Durham University (UK). He recently retired from almost 37 years as a U.S. Army chaplain and holds a Ph.D. in Theological Ethics from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, an M.S.S. in Strategic Leadership from the U.S. Army War College, and is a certified Army Strategist. He has deployed to combat as a Battalion, Brigade, and Division Chaplain in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and held strategic postings at both US Army Europe and Africa and the Pentagon. His military decorations include two awards each of the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star medals, the Combat Action Badge, and the Purple Heart.
