On Mark Twain's War Prayer

Yuen M. Ho

English 48B

February 2, 2007

Journal #19 Mark Twain

I. Quote

“You have heard your servant's prayer -- the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it -- that part which the pastor -- and also you in your hearts -- fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. the *whole* of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory--*must* follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer.”

II. Summary

This is a quote from Mark Twain’s “War Prayer.” Twain was opposed to the Philippine-American War at that time. He used this story to mock about the “religious devotion” of the country: people asked God to grant them victory—which seemed a beautiful thing to do; yet, they ignored that the other side of triumph involves their foe’s defeat, pain, and suffering.

The prayers might sound touching and righteous—all they asked for were just safe return of their armies. Nevertheless, Twain pointed out through a mysterious aged man that this result could not be achieved without causing calamitous consequences of deaths and devastation for their enemies.

III. Response

The courage of Mark Twain should be exalted—he was not fearful to point out the hypocrisy of most people in the country at war time. People appeared to be devout by praying and committing to God about the course of the war. Yet, they were indeed ignorant and selfish—because when they prayed for victory and safety for their country, they were also hoping the other side to suffer from catastrophic defeat.

With genuine religious devoting, people should not concern merely about the well-being of a certain group of people, but the entire human race. War is in no way a righteous action—whatever the moral cause, the means in bringing about the ends is always evil, as it involves killing and destruction. The effort of concealing their sin by sincere prayers will only expose, or even aggregate their sin.