What are your thoughts on the religious crusades?

Question

Do you see parallels today?

If you are Christian, do you recognize that at that time, the crusades were supported by the prevailing lay Christian interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 1

There certainly are parallels, not least in launching a political war under the auspices of a religious banner. Originally, the idea was to protect Constantinople, now it is to protect oil. Along the way, you fire up religious groups to give your side a broad base of support.

Answer 2

Initially, the Crusades were in response to the Muslim invasion. It is a shame that the job wasn't finished to the end. That is why we have the problem we do today. Whether Christian, or secularist, I would have the same view. It wasn't just based on an interpretation of the bible. It was done because Muslims started a war with the Christian world and also because of the invasion of Jerusalem. The religion of the Muslims is based on a concocted story by Mohammed based on the Old and New Testament scriptures with his own twist on it and then said he had been given it by allah. ( yeah right ) He tried selling it to the Jews and Christians before going to the pagan Arabs. There is more to this than the mere simple question you asked. You need to study history to know this though.

Answer 3

The Crusades prevented the "Mohammedans", as they were then called, from overrunning Europe. If not for the Crusades all of Europe would have been Muslim with a few years, and America would also be Muslim because the Europeans who first settled America would have been Muslim. So, if you like the freedom to practice your Christianity, thank the Catholic Church and the Crusaders. Sure, there were some atrocities committed by some Crusaders. Name a war where similar things didn't happen.

Tragically, it looks like Europe is well on its way to becoming Muslim anyway. Because of their reluctance to have children, and the vast number of children who have been slaughtered in abortion, most European countries are not even at replacement level. Ever year there are fewer and fewer French, Spanish and Italian people on Earth. In most European countries there are not enough native workers to do the jobs necessary to support the society, so they have to import workers. And guess where most of those workers come from? The Middle East of course. And Muslims do not see children as a curse. They typically have large families.

Answer 4

Should they have just ignored the Muslim oppression that had gone on so long. Would you want to pay tax just because of your belief or where a special garment or color identifying you in public and have every few rights, cant ride a horse while Muslims can must bow to the Muslims when paying your tax. I know many things were done wrongly by the crusaders but why people ignore the Muslim invasions and oppressions that brought it on I don't understand. Did you realize that it had been 450 years of Muslim aggression by this time?

Answer 5

Yes I see the parallels of The Crusades and today's conventional wisdom. I disapprove and disagree with both. Both were more about economic factors that were given a religious disguise.

Answer 6

And actually - the crusades were quite political. A lot of people were accused of witchcraft and other religious crimes so the church could take their land. This was especially true of women whose husbands had died, leaving the women with the deeds to their properties. The church wanted the property. The Templars were slaughtered for the same reason. King Philip of France owed the Templars money, so he got with the church, and together they took the Templars down by accusing them of worshiping the devil.

Answer 7

Yes it was. No there is no parallel today. Some people now think we still hold these beliefs. Now we are peaceful as Christ would be. We go on missions and live according to Christ so people can see Him in us. We were wrong to kill in the name of God. He would not have wanted that. But we are all human and to err is human. I hope people can move on so we can too.

Answer 8

The Muslims were getting what they deserved and people who are Christians should always defend Israel and God's chosen people The Jews untill the end of the World.

Answer 9

there is no point what so ever in the speading of a peaceful religion by the sword - it is illogical.

The Mideavil Cursades were that way and the current claims by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of iran are just as ludicrous.

Answer 10

subtle parallel. then it was accept Christ or die by my sword or fire. popes bought and used the throne for political manuevering. I don't think interpretation was the problem, then. It was pure abuse by the leaderships. Now, it is battles over definitions of words, and politics puts religion on like a little flag lapel button, not standing on it as a soapbox....mostly.