History Extra podcast Has WW2 become a national religion?
Jun 16, 2024
Alec Ryrie, Professor of history at Durham University, explores the religious significance of WWII in British society, discussing its impact on national identity and values. The podcast delves into how WWII continues to shape British perception, memory, and societal identity, reflecting on its influence on post-war international order and ethics.
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WW2 as Britain's Moral Compass
- The Second World War has become Britain's central sacred national narrative defining its identity and ethics.
- Adolf Hitler now serves as the primary moral reference point replacing a positive exemplar like Jesus Christ.
WW2's Quasi-Religious Status
- The Second World War holds a quasi-religious status in Britain despite secularism.
- Discussion on Nazis and genocide is treated with a reverence similar to religious taboo to protect core societal values.
WW2 as Britain's Unique Epic
- The Second World War is unique in Britain as a unifying national trauma unlike earlier internal conflicts.
- Other nations may have revolutionary defining events but Britain lacks a similar shared epic before WW2.