crusades how did they happen?

Question

How was it posible to talk people into killing other people in the name of a religion that forbids the killing of people

Answer 1

The Saracens/Turks had over run most of the Byzantium Empire in the east, including what were the seats of eastern Christendom. The Emperor Alexios asked the Pope for aid in driving back the Muslims, hoping for a small, manageable, mercenary force under his leadership. Pope Urban saw this as a possibility to enhance papal prestige and power and called for a crusade to liberate Jerusalem.
The overwhelming response to the call in the west was a shock to the Byzantiums, who though grateful for military help, distrusted their Catholic counterparts and were happier to see these brawling barbarian westerners out of their lands and into the Turks territory.
The makeup of the crusaders was mostly of semi literate barons who were enticed by the promise of eastern wealth just as much as the promise of salvation in afterlife. Europe at that time, was a cultural backwater, while the Levant was the centre of learning and culture (inheritors of the Greek and Persian cultures), plus world trade (silk route and trade routes to India) making it an irresistible target.

Answer 2

Crusades like any other war is about someone gaining power or money or both. The religious aspect is just a way of convincing the common man to take part. Once people believe in something strongly enough (and remember in those days people could not read or write and had no explanations for natural events which we now accept as normal) they will do almost anything to protect that belief.
As a matter of interest when the crusaders attacked Jerusalem in the first crusade there were more Christians in the city than any other religious group

Answer 3

It is the old, "Our God is better than yours". Today it is going on actively in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Egypt, Sudan, and other areas in Africa.

Religions forbid murder, but killing is OK. Joshua at Jericho is a good example. They butchered every man, woman, and child after the Jews won. They may even have invented genocide!

Answer 4

The church wanted the holy lands and convinced the people that god wanted the land for them and killing the muslims was there duty.
I could of phrased it better but i would of gone on for ever.

Answer 5

Propaganda. People will hear what they want to hear, and leaders seeking power will say what needs to be heard. It's difficult in times of fear and uncertainty to look at the "big picture," but rather to clutch unto what is safe and most certain. The Church led people to believe it was God's will. Unfortunately at that time, The Church had mostly its own political and financial needs in mind.

Answer 6

They felt they were protecting their faith and their God.

The Crusades were a series of defensive wars against Islamic aggression in the Middle Ages and attempts to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim conquerors in order to allow safe pilgrimage and to protect and maintain the Christian presence there

Here is an excellent link explaining:
http://www.fisheaters.com/crusades.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04543c.htm

Answer 7

Where have you been for the last 2000 years

Answer 8

The question I ask is, how are people *still managing* to persuade people to kill and die in the name of religion?

Answer 9

Please learn a little about the Crusades first. Are you aware that the Muslims had conquered two-thirds of the Christian world by the time of the first Crusade? The Crusades were defensive wars.
http://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006a/022406/022406a.php

Answer 10

The church told people that they would be killing for god