Catholic Controversies Chapter 7. “The Crusades” Unabridged Christianity pp

Popular Misconceptions  The crusades were holy wars led by power hungry popes and fought by religious fanatics.  The crusades introduced violence to the peaceful Middle East.  The crusades left an enlightened Islamic culture in ruins.

Western apology for the Crusades #1: These were defensive wars  Some Muslims actively divided the world into the Abode of Islam and the Abode of War.  While Christian and Jewish individuals were tolerated, Christian states were not.  The First Crusade was called as a direct result of the request for assistance from the Byzantine Empire.  There was no reason for western Christians not to think they would suffer the same as the Byzantines if they did not try to stop Islamic expansion.

Urban II’s stated goals  First: rescue the Christians of the East  Read Pope Innocent III on p. 183  This goal was defined as an extension of loving one’s neighbor (here seen as eastern Christians)  Liberate Jerusalem and other places made holy by Christ.  At the time Crusaders thought of themselves as pilgrims (crusader is a modern term)  The crusade indulgence was related to pilgrimage.  By allowing us to restore the Holy World, God was conferring a blessing, according to Church leaders of the time (p. 184)

Western Apology for the Crusades #2: The purpose of the crusades was not to force Muslims to convert  Crusaders saw their goal as to defeat and defend against Islam. Nothing more.  Muslims in the conquered territories were generally allowed to keep their property and livelihood, and always their religion.  There is no argument that the violence was often brutal, Violence went both ways.  War is like that… But the violence was not directed towards conversion.

Western Apology for the Crusades #3: The Church did not condone the massacre of Jews  Jews were killed, sometimes in atrocious manner, from Europe to the Middle East during the Crusades.  Popes and Bishops vigorously protested these atrocities.  Read St. Bernard p He was no fan of the Jews, but did preach that they were not to be persecuted.  When a fellow Cistercian Monk, Radulf, preached their destruction, he was forcefully stopped by Bernard  “Collateral damage” p. 185… Thoughts?

Does asking a person to intercede for you from heaven “work” better than asking someone on earth?  I don’t think so, however, there are reasons you may choose to ask someone in heaven to pray for you instead of someone down here.  To gain support from loved ones in heaven.  To ask for prayers on a topic they may be uncomfortable sharing or explaining to a friend on earth.  Because of a special relationship they shared with a person in heaven when they were both on earth.  To continue your relationship with loved ones you have lost.

The “Success” of the Crusades  Success? Not much to see here…  Islamic Expansion was the colossus of the medieval world. Not Christianity.  Only the First Crusade had any military success. And even that was temporary.  The Second Crusade, led by a king and an emporer, and preached by St. Barnard was an epic fail.  Their only real victory was against their erstwhile ally Damascus.

“Success” Continued  Richard’s Crusade was #3  This was the focus of our video.  The entire 4 th crusade was excommunicated by the Pope (Innocent III) when they became mired in Byzantine politics and ended up sacking Constantinople when the Emperor they helped put in office wouldn’t pay the fee they thought they deserved.  Thus ended any medieval hopes for an east/west Christian reconciliation.

Conclusions  It is easy, and in many respects justified, to express dismay at the Crusades.  Religion is not a thing to wage war over.  But as we react with dismay to the Crusades we should remember that they would likely express equal dismay with the wars we have waged over politics in the last 200 years.