A crash course on the Crusades...

[Michie]

The Crusades are one of the most misunderstood events in Western and Church history. The very word “crusades” conjures negative images in our modern world of bloodthirsty and greedy European nobles embarked on a conquest of peaceful Muslims. The Crusades are considered by many to be one of the “sins” the Christian Faith has committed against humanity and with the Inquisition are the go-to cudgels for bashing the Church.

While the mocking and generally nasty portrayal of the Crusades and Crusaders on the big screen ranges from Monty Python farce to the cringe worthy big budget spectacles like Kingdom of Heaven (2005), it is the biased and bad scholarship such as Steven Runciman’s History of the Crusades, or the BBC/A&E documentary, The Crusades, hosted by Terry Jones (of Monty Python acclaim) that does real damage. From academia to pop-culture, the message is reinforced and driven home with resounding force: the Crusades were bad and obviously so. The real story is of course far more complicated and far more interesting.

It is worth our time to be versed in the facts and especially to recall the tremendous faith, sacrifice, and courage that inspired the vast majority of the Crusaders to act in defense of Christendom.

What were the Crusades?

When answering the question “what were the Crusades” one has to keep in mind that Crusading took on many different forms throughout the movement which spanned a significant portion of European history lasting from 1095 – 1798.

Continued- http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/crash-course-on-the-crusades

 

[ranpleasant]

I hold the Crusaders to be among the greatest of heros of the Catholic Church and of Western Civilization. Below is another good short article on the Cursades by Thomas F. Madden.

The Real History of the Crusades


Ran Pleasant

 

[ProScribe]

There should be some historical evidence of the Crusades too...

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Two great religions killing each other and anyone in the their way for decades.

And each one want to claim the moral high ground.

No wonder organized religion is in trouble all over the world.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Religion aside - it takes one antagonist to get it going. Regardless if it consisted of two religious groups.

Ever consider the mass murdering from atheists?
Probably not - thats too secular to count.
But usually its the false variety that embarks to go after the ancient Church [time and again]

Their cunundrum - cant beat em - cant join em.