Early in the war, soldiers on both sides sang Christmas carols to each other. By the end of the war, they just wanted to kill the other side and get it done with. Perhaps that war played as big a role as anything in killing off Christianity in Europe.
I too love Hastings' work. Perhaps he has an answer to my questions in this book.
My Great Uncle, Newfoundland Regiment British Army, that if he knew then the realities he have hid in the woods with the Frenchies.( Exact Quote.)
I second that. The 20th century was a long period of decline. Christianity in decline. Freedom in decline. Culture in decline. We did develop toys and technology (I won't complain about antibiotics and computers) but so much of the 20th century was movement away from what a Conservative would like to see.
I blame WWI (and the Progressives) for really getting the bad trip going.
My great grandfather fought (likely lied about his age) in the Spanish American War in Puerto Rico, and thought it fine sport. He was a Captain in the AEF and was part of an assault across a pontoon bridge in the face of machine gun fire in France. His opinion of war was decidedly different after that.