Is the current wave of islamic extremism any different from the christian crusades and inquisitions?

Answer 1

The Crusades helped hold back the spread of islam. Now no one is because we have to be politically correct to evil. Jesus will come and fix things though.

Merry Christmas.

Answer 2

Certainly! In the past, Christian extremism has led to very unpleasant things. In particular, there were the Crusades. In the first one, some extremists went to the Near East, burned down a city without bothering to find out what religion the locals practiced, killed the inhabitants and ate the children for dinner (you can check this out on Google if you doubt me but this is a fact). It turned out that the inhabitants had been Christians, not Muslims. But, even if they had been Muslims, I hardly think this sort of behavior would have been less deplorable. Have you heard of pogroms? These were little exercises in Christian beastliness that were quite popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe. The pious Christians of the day forced the Jews to all live together in a certain part of town. Then, every so often, the Christians would get together and hold a massacre of the local Jews. That was a pogrom. Some of my ancestors narrowly escaped some of these. So I am here today to tell you about them. Christians like to think that they are too nice to do bad things. But that's only because they don't know history. History tells us that Christians have been pretty nasty at times. The Ku Klux Klan was full of Christians in our country, after all. They killed people and burned crosses on lawns to show their religiosity. That's rather threatening, don't you think? It was intended to be. So yes, I do think Christian evangelism could be a threat. I've heard some people actually use it that way. I've heard some of my neighbors say they'd support bombing abortion clinics -- with doctors, nurses, and patients inside. I've heard some evangelicals say they'd support the murder of certain politicians whom they disagreed with. That's pretty darn extreme! That's about as threatening as it gets!

Answer 3

There are some similarities to the crusades and I suppose you could compare sectarian violence to the inquisitions and get a lot of similarities there too. Also the perversion of sacred text may be a commonality but I don't know for sure as I have not read their texts. I have heard "moderate Muslims" on the news say this though.

Answer 4

Completely different. The crusades were an attempt to put places that the Christians thought holy to their religion in the hands of Christian people.
The fracus going on in Iraq right now is the various Muslim factions trying to get their mullah in the dictators seat. It is not a fight between Christians and Muslims - - even though they use America as the scapegoat.

Answer 5

A very good question! ( :

Have you read "Foxe's Book of Martyrs"?

You see, the problem arises in the 'Separation of Church and State.' Where the 'church' (or mosque) or any toher religious body is recognized as 'official,' and 'of the State' problems arise that historically mean trouble.

Those that do not agree with the "Official Church" are given to terrible acts backed by the powers of Government, the "Official Church" being in alliance with the government enforcement, legislation, and executive branches.

What we get out of that historically is the power hungry, mixed with religion, and the attempt to control personal beliefs being to unfold with enforcement.

That is the true intent of "Separation of Church and State" within the USA. It's NOT about prayer in schools, religious items displayed in public areas, etc.

And yet the confusion, and the 'muddying of the waters' continue to erode by the media, and by those that seek to ursrp the 'personality' of the country.

So no, I do not see much difference in the Inqusitions, though I do see a difference in the distinctions of the Crusades, those being against Muslim rule did want their countries free of the control of a 'foreign power.'

I, being a Christian, would not want a theocracy, at least until Christ returns. Only then would I trust one.

The Muslims however borrow their religious view from the views of the Ottoman Empire. They see nothing wrong with living under Shiriah Law. So the government is right and 'good' IF they are under the Law. And it is in those places where Gay are hanged, Christians are decapitated sideways, and the power hungry and religiously cruel are given authority.

You can see it in Darfur,you can see it in Iran, you can see it in Saudi Arabia.

History repeats itself again!

Answer 6

Yes it is different. The crusades were nearly a thousand years ago. Things have moved on. We wouldn't tolerate christians doing that in the name of religion now, and we won't tolerate muslims doing now either. Simple.

Answer 7

not really. In fact, it's the basis of my doctoral thesis : Patterns in religious history. Basically, Islam began 600 years after Christianity. So how do you work it out....look at what christianity was doing 600 years ago and that should be similar to what Muslims are doing today.

All religions have patterns of extremism. The crux of the Crusades (just like in the Jihad) is that the individuals administrating the attacks maintain a monopoly on education. Basically, keep the soldiers, crusaders, terrorists ignorant of the fact that what they do contradicts scripture and they'll do it.

It's a fair observation to make in my opinion

Answer 8

Chicken came before the egg.
The crusades were an unfortunate response to radical Islamic invasions in Europe, especially Spain.

Answer 9

Yes, the Crusades etc. were then, Islamist terrorism is now. It is woolly thinking to believe that these Islamists can some how be understood or in anyway condoned because of historic events. They are purely murdering scum.

Answer 10

It's pretty much the same from my perspective. I'm looking forward to seeing some genuine attempts by christians to differentiate the two. Most christians know pathetically little of the details of the crusades or much else about the history of christianity or they'd be ashamed to call themselves christians.