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Founder Henri Dunant grew up in a Swiss Protestant family that was motivated by a religious "awakening."
October 29 is the 160th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In spite of the religious symbol used by this life-saving movement, the Red Cross is a secular organization. But its founder was motivated by deeply-held Christian principles.
According to a blog of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the life of Henri Dunant was profoundly influenced by his Christian faith.
Born in 1828 and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, Dunant grew up in a Christian family, largely taught the faith by his aunt, Sophie. The Dunant family was part of an “Awakening” movement that aimed at restoring pure Protestantism.
“The young Dunant was deeply influenced by several local clergymen and the main principles of the Awakening faith: reading of the Bible, millennialism, proselytism and active charity – a good Christian had to be committed to charitable activities. This environment played a prominent role in forging his faith and charitable commitment,” the ICRC says, based on the 2021 book Les Fractures Protestantes en Suisse Romande au XIXe Siècle.
The faith manifested itself in several ways in the young man’s life: starting a Bible-reading group and opening a chapter of the then-new Young Men’s Christian Association in Geneva.
But what really changed Dunant’s life – and world history – was his first-hand witness of the fruits of war, on the battlefield in Solferino, northern Italy. The battle between French and Austrian troops left some 40,000 men dead and wounded. Soldiers had no relief or medical attention.
“Shaken by so much horror and suffering, he spent several days in the small town of Castiglione, where he helped the local population to take care of the victims of the battle,” the ICRC says.
Continued below.
aleteia.org
October 29 is the 160th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In spite of the religious symbol used by this life-saving movement, the Red Cross is a secular organization. But its founder was motivated by deeply-held Christian principles.
According to a blog of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the life of Henri Dunant was profoundly influenced by his Christian faith.
Born in 1828 and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, Dunant grew up in a Christian family, largely taught the faith by his aunt, Sophie. The Dunant family was part of an “Awakening” movement that aimed at restoring pure Protestantism.
“The young Dunant was deeply influenced by several local clergymen and the main principles of the Awakening faith: reading of the Bible, millennialism, proselytism and active charity – a good Christian had to be committed to charitable activities. This environment played a prominent role in forging his faith and charitable commitment,” the ICRC says, based on the 2021 book Les Fractures Protestantes en Suisse Romande au XIXe Siècle.
The faith manifested itself in several ways in the young man’s life: starting a Bible-reading group and opening a chapter of the then-new Young Men’s Christian Association in Geneva.
But what really changed Dunant’s life – and world history – was his first-hand witness of the fruits of war, on the battlefield in Solferino, northern Italy. The battle between French and Austrian troops left some 40,000 men dead and wounded. Soldiers had no relief or medical attention.
“Shaken by so much horror and suffering, he spent several days in the small town of Castiglione, where he helped the local population to take care of the victims of the battle,” the ICRC says.
Continued below.
The Christian origins of the Red Cross movement
Founder Henri Dunant grew up in a Swiss Protestant family that was motivated by a religious "awakening."
aleteia.org
