Australian Experiences of the Sublime and the Numinous During the Great War

Australian Experiences of the Sublime and the Numinous During the Great War

The Myth of Anzac

von John Grimes

This book examines how various Australians understood or expressed their experience of the Great War and early war commemoration in transcendent terms, and in so doing contributed to the creation of an Australian foundation myth, Anzac. The significant breadth and depth of religious or transcendent experience for some Australian Great War servicemen challenges longstanding historical accounts of soldiers—world-wide—as secular in outlook or unconcerned with or with no experience of religious or transcendent ( sublime or numinous ) experience. The book adopts an empirical approach to historical sources (letters, diary entries, verse), while drawing on insights and methodologies from historical biography, micro-history and comparative studies in myth, religion and phenomenology, and in particular, those of philosopher and historian of religion, Rudolf Otto. It is an interdisciplinary study grounded in deep archival research which breaks new ground in the field. 

„John Grimes’ book is a timely reminder of an aspect of the Anzac experience that is often overlooked. Many of them were religious people; they believed. The constructed figure of the Larrikin has often eclipsed the more spiritual Anzacs. Grimes has meticulously exhumed their diaries, memoirs and poems from the past to study the transcendental and the sublime within them. This account is a fine insight into the spirituality of these Australians at war.“
— Romain Fathi, Australian National University

„In a country as severely secular as Australia, it is not surprising that understanding the spirituality of the Anzac soldiers during World War I has been seriously underplayed. This book provides a welcome correction to that. Through a close reading of the diaries and memoirs of the Anzacs, it explores the Anzacs‘ lived experience of the transcendent – of the sublime and the numinous – as read through the lens of the religious theories of Rudolf Otto, Caroline Franks Davis, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell. This is a significant and original addition both to our understanding of ANZAC spirituality, and also to our awareness of the spirituality of World War I soldiers more generally.“
— Philip C. Almond FAHA, University of Queensland, Australia

This book examines how various Australians understood or expressed their experience of the Great War and early war commemoration in transcendent terms, and in so doing contributed to the creation of an Australian foundation myth,  Anzac. The significant breadth and depth of religious or transcendent experience for some Australian Great War servicemen challenges longstanding historical accounts of soldiers—world-wide—as secular in outlook or unconcerned with or with no experience of religious or transcendent ( sublime or numinous ) experience. The book adopts an empirical approach to historical sources (letters, diary entries, verse), while drawing on insights and methodologies from historical biography, micro-history and comparative studies in myth, religion and phenomenology, and in particular, those of philosopher and historian of religion, Rudolf Otto. It is an interdisciplinary study grounded in deep archival research which breaks new ground in the field.

John Grimes received his PhD in Religious Studies from Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia. He also holds a first-class honours degree in History from the University of Queensland and has taught in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. He has travelled widely and to sites associated with the Anzac tradition, including Gallipoli, Türkiye. 

“John Grimes’ book is a timely reminder of an aspect of the Anzac experience that is often overlooked. Many of them were religious people; they believed. The constructed figure of the Larrikin has often eclipsed the more spiritual Anzacs. Grimes’ meticulously exhumed their diaries, memoirs and poems from the past to study the transcendental and the sublime within them. This account is a fine insight into the spirituality of these Australians at war.” (Romain Fathi, Associate Professor Romain Fathi, School of History, Research School of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra ACT)

“In a country as severely secular as Australia, it is not surprising that understanding the spirituality of the Anzac soldiers during World War I has been seriously underplayed. This book provides a welcome correction to that. Through a close reading of the diaries and memoirs of the Anzacs, it explores the Anzacs‘  lived experience of the transcendent – of the sublime and the numinous –  as read through the lens of the religious theories of Rudolf Otto, Caroline Franks Davis, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell. This is a significant and original addition both to our understanding of ANZAC spirituality,  and also to our awareness of the spirituality of World War I soldiers more generally.” (Philip C. Almond FAHA, Emeritus Professor, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)

“John Grimes has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the genuine religiosity and transcendent impulses that were to become an essential component in the formation of the ANZAC myth. His book includes a good cross-section of writings by soldiers and chaplains in WWI, both in France and the Middle East. The religious language and imagery in these selections suggest a transcendent dimension to their experiences. As well as being an excellent piece of historical research, The Myth of Anzac provides the reader with a clear phenomenological analysis of numinous and religious experience in the time of war. Highly recommended.” (Laurence Browne, Author of The Many Faces of Coincidence)

Highlights

• Explores how we can best understand the more personal sublime experiences of participants in war Asks if the methodological approaches and insights of Rudolf Otto can help explain the nature of such experiences Makes a notable contribution to the understanding of transcendent or sublime human experience more generally

Über den Autor

John Grimes received his PhD in Religious Studies from Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia. He also holds a first-class honours degree in History from the University of Queensland and has taught in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. He has travelled widely and to sites associated with the Anzac tradition, including Gallipoli, Türkiye.