Version 1
: Received: 11 October 2018 / Approved: 12 October 2018 / Online: 12 October 2018 (04:44:37 CEST)
How to cite:
Rosman, E. Towards a Typology of Battlefield Miracles: The Case of Operation “Cast Lead” in the Israel Defense Forces. Preprints2018, 2018100252. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201810.0252.v1.
Rosman, E. Towards a Typology of Battlefield Miracles: The Case of Operation “Cast Lead” in the Israel Defense Forces. Preprints 2018, 2018100252. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201810.0252.v1.
Cite as:
Rosman, E. Towards a Typology of Battlefield Miracles: The Case of Operation “Cast Lead” in the Israel Defense Forces. Preprints2018, 2018100252. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201810.0252.v1.
Rosman, E. Towards a Typology of Battlefield Miracles: The Case of Operation “Cast Lead” in the Israel Defense Forces. Preprints 2018, 2018100252. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201810.0252.v1.
Abstract
Battlefield miracle stories are not rare. This paper suggests a typology of battlefield miracles. From this perspective it asks what sort of miracles can we expect to see in battle and when can we expect to see them? After presenting the main points of discussion regarding miracles, it proposes a range of categories for military miracles (miracles as acts that violate nature versus miracles as everyday acts; those involving the divine versus occurrences not requiring the presence of a heavenly emissary; acts of benevolence versus acts with no such intent; having a clear purpose versus acts where there is disagreement regarding interpretation). After discussing these categories, the articles uses Operation Cast Lead (December 2008–January 2009) as a case study to test the typology suggested above. Since this field is underdeveloped, this paper sets out to initiate a conversation on battlefield miracles, with hope that future studies will build upon it.
Keywords
miracles; battlefield; Rachel the matriarch; Israel defense forces; typology
Subject
ARTS & HUMANITIES, Religious Studies
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
