What did the clergyman Nathan Söderblom do to save losers of the war?
Nathan Söderblom is probably the only man to have been acknowledged both as a scholar – he was awarded the 1930 Nobel Peace Prize, and as a priest – he is remembered as saint in the Lutheran Church calendar.
In his 30s, Nathan, then a chaplain at the Swedish Embassy in Paris, was invited to consult Alfred Nobel on the idea to bequeath his funds for a prize. Several months after that meeting, Nathan was called from France to Italy to conduct a memorial service for A.Nobel.
In his 40s, Nathan was helping his friend, another notable Swede, August Strindberg to raise money. Three years after the campaign, Nathan would conduct a service upon A.Strindberg’s death.
In his 60s, Nathan was internationally recognised for his efforts to unite Christians from various denominations (the movement called ecumenism). He had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 13 times before 1930 and six more times, including nominations by the Swedish and French Parliaments, in 1930, when he finally received the award.
By that time, Nathan had already become a professor of religious studies, had been appointed the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, had visited the United States, travelled all around Europe, and …survived a war.
About 50 days after the clergyman had been appointed as the leader of the Swedish Church, on July 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, and the day would become the beginning of the First World War.
Things Nathan Söderblom said about war
"We are convinced that the time must come when existing treaties have to be revised in the interest of peace, but we maintain that all international disputes and conflicts which cannot be solved through diplomacy or mediation must be settled through arbitration by the International Court of Justice or some other court of law acknowledged by both parties." – The Eisenach Resolution, 1917
"First the heart must be transformed, then good deeds come from a good heart." – "Tre livsformer", Stockholm 1922
"The cease-fire was not accompanied by trumpet blasts, banners, and jubilation, but limped its way from grave to grave, from line to line. We can still hear the death rattle of our wounded friends. Weapons have lost their splendor and fascination; human bankruptcy is complete; people are tired, worn out, only glad to have escaped death-humanity lays down its arms. This is not victory; this is defeat on all sides.
[…] The weapons have forgotten the taste of blood, and death rattles are no longer heard, for those who uttered them sleep beneath the earth. Perhaps the moldering hearts of those who were taken from us now give life to the flower sprouting forth twelve years later. But the dream was pulled from the heart so suddenly. The war was to teach hatred instead of love. The hand which wanted to caress was to be clenched instead, the lip which yearned to speak of good was to wither. Life was stolen and death awarded in its place. The flowers do not speak of revenge; they spring up from hearts warmly remembered; rooted in bitter reality, they grow in a new dream.
[…] Were their sacrifices in vain? Do the fatherless, the widows, the brotherless now see a happier world, a more truthful world? Is there less hatred, less envy, less despair? Does the message of peace resound outside the portals of the church? Do we now stretch out our hands to one another more willingly?" – Quoting his friend in San Francisco upon the end of World War I (ended Nov 11, 1918)
"Making compromises with violence offends the one who in his mercy granted us new life..." – The Content of Christian Faith, a reflection by N.Söderblom (published in 1936, originally in Dutch)
"People with unshakable faith in progress, believing that the world was on the road to Paradise, suddenly found themselves plunged into the darkest hell of hatred and duplicity." – Nobel Lecture, Dec 11, 1930
"However, Christians should not wait for full agreement before they start practicing the duty of love imposed by the Master." – Nobel Lecture, Dec 11, 1930
"The question is not whether one is orthodox in conforming to some peace formula or other, but whether one does something to promote peace. " – Nobel Lecture, Dec 11, 1930
Things Nathan Söderblom did about peace
Before 1914, when the question of peace was not considered critical or urgent
- A student, he was active in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), and in the international Christian student movement. At the age of 26, he became first vice president and then president of the Uppsala Student Union.
- Conducted scientific studies, authored works on origins of religion, Zoroastrianism, Iranian religion, religious views of Marthin Luther; published handbooks and new editions of hymnal books.
After 1914, when over 30 nations declared war and involved their countries in the Great War
- Conducted and supported (including financial assistance) theological lectures and foundations aimed for international work.
- On behalf of the government, composed a written recommendation for an international religious mission.
- As the Archbishop of Sweden, he also aimed to deepen the channels of communication between the Church and the working people, the Church and the intellectuals, and between different branches of Christianity.
In 1925, he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Learnt nine languages (plus Swedish as his native language) to be able to understand scholars and their works in Europe and the USA as well as to communicate with representatives of the international church community without third-party assistance.
- Aside from being a pastor for Swedish community in Paris, served as a sailor's chaplain in the north of France.
To discuss the cooperation, he arranged the World Conference of Life and Work (known as the Ecumenical Conference) in Stockholm in 1925. There were certain documents issued as a result of the meeting to be used as a guideline for their further social and religious activities. More than 20 years later, the initiative would form the World Council of Churches.
At first sight, these may seem kind of common activities for a socially active person. But let’s dig just a little bit deeper
- As a religious servant, Nathan was never obliged to be a social activist or anything like that, it all was his own initiative.
- All this took place in the late 19th or in the early 20th century when international communication and global development were not as popular as today.
- It doesn’t have to be complicated to be about peace and kind hearts. In the motivation for Nathan’s Nobel Peace Prize it is stated "for promoting Christian unity and helping create 'that new attitude of mind which is necessary if peace between nations is to become reality'". He hoped for peace, he thought deeply, and he aimed to reach more hearts and minds.
He aimed to make every nation a winner – by eliminating war.
More about the clergyman's lifetime
Nathan Söderblom – The dedicated page by the Nobel Prize organisation.
Nathan Söderblom and the Quest for Catholicity – A paper on N.Söderblom's life and views; presented by Clemens Cavallin, at the 2018 Roman Forum.
Kyrkans fredsplikt, dess vägar och mål (Eng. The Church's duty to peace, its paths and goals) – Scans of the speech by N.Söderblom for the Nobel Lecture (in Swedish).