The Vietnam War and Theologies of Memory: Time and Eternity in the Far Country

Many Americans are still haunted by the Vietnam War. Because memories of Vietnam were too difficult to bear, others made the fateful decision to forget entirely. But how – and why – does one choose to remember moral catastrophe? And is it ever ethical to simply forget?

This unique work develops a theological analysis of the American war in Vietnam, constructing a Christian account of memory in relation to the events that unfolded during the course of this long and tragic conflict. In doing so, it reveals broader insights about history, memory, and redemption. Combining the theological categories of time and eternity, Tran reflects upon two central questions: How might Christians theologically understand the Vietnam War; and why and how might Christians remember the horrors perpetrated there?

An elegantly written reflection of memory and forgiveness, The Vietnam War and Theologies of Memory represents a significant new work whose appeal will resonate beyond the field of theological inquiry by offering a far-reaching analysis of war entirely relevant to our time.