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Hardly anathema. Every infidel killed guarantees 100 houris (dancing girls, with perpetually renewing virginity) in Paradise for the Islamic warrior.

The Crusades are often portrayed as a Christian atrocity, in which murderous knights raped and pillaged their way across the Middle East. In fact, the Crusades were a European political response to agggresively expansionist Islam. That war started with the death of the Prophet and continues to this day.

For an excellent read about the history of militant Islam, check out Jihad in the West: Muslim Conquests from the 7th to the 21st Centuries by Paul Fergosi.

Hardly anathema. Every infidel killed guarantees 100 houris (dancing girls, with perpetually renewing virginity) in Paradise for the Islamic warrior.

This did not come from the Koran, but rather, it came from "The Old Man of the Mountain" who gave us Hashishan (from which "assaisan" comes).

The Crusades are often portrayed as a Christian atrocity, in which murderous knights raped and pillaged their way across the Middle East. In fact, the Crusades were a European political response to agggresively expansionist Islam. That war started with the death of the Prophet and continues to this day.

A case could also be made that it was Rome's way of destroying the Byzantine empire. Be that as it may, it is true that the Crusades started in response to Arab incursions. However, the crusades were stopped by Temujin. From the late 1800s to the mid 1900s, Arabic and Christian nations got along very well.

The Crusades are a good example of mass hysteria. It had religious and political components. Most of the Europeans that volunteered for the Crusades were motivated by apocolyptic Christian beliefs not dissimilar to those of the so-called Islamic terrorists. The true enemy in this conflict are the totalitatian, superstitious nations that fund maniacs like Osama bin Laden. There is no special evil involved in Islam, Christianity or any other religion.

Every infidel killed guarantees 100 houris (dancing girls, with perpetually renewing virginity) in Paradise for the Islamic warrior.

Let me guess, Cincy. You got this in an email.

I've read the Quoran. It reminded me of the Psalms. Infidel's are defined as those who hate God, roughly Satanists in our time. When the Infidels finally come to kill all believers, God will reward soldiers who defend the faith. It's an Armegeddon type thing.

Every infidel killed guarantees 100 houris (dancing girls, with perpetually renewing virginity) in Paradise for the Islamic warrior.

Let me guess, Cincy. You got this in an email.

I've read the Quoran. It reminded me of the Psalms. Infidel's are defined as those who hate God, roughly Satanists in our time. When the Infidels finally come to kill all believers, God will reward soldiers who defend the faith. It's an Armegeddon type thing.

the only time houri that you refer to appears in the Koran appears to be in this text:

[44.51] Surely those who guard (against evil) are in a secure place,
[44.52] In gardens and springs;
[44.53] They shall wear of fine and thick silk, (sitting) face to face;
[44.54] Thus (shall it be), and We will wed them with Houris pure, beautiful ones.
[44.55] They shall call therein for every fruit in security;
[44.56] They shall not taste therein death except the first death, and He will save them from the punishment of the hell,
[44.57] A grace from your Lord; this is the great achievement.
[44.58] So have We made it easy in your tongue that they may be mindful.
[44.59] Therefore wait; surely they are waiting.

Perversion of religion for power and evil is not a new thing. Misidentifaction of whom you should fight is not a new thing either.

The Crusades are often portrayed as a Christian atrocity, in which murderous knights raped and pillaged their way across the Middle East. In fact, the Crusades were a European political response to agggresively expansionist Islam.

"The Crusaders went on a rampage through Jerusalem, killing all whom they encounteredf, Moslems and Jews. (Before the siege, when news of the approach of the Crusaders had reached Iftikhar, he had ordered all Christians to leave.) The remaining Jews sought refuge on this Sabbath eve in their central synagogue. The Crusaders set fire to the building and all perished." p. 176, Jerusalem, Sacred City of Mankind, A History of Forty Centuries, By Teddy Kollek & Moshe Pearlman.

It sounds like massacre to me. Yes the Crusades were a reaction against the abuses of the Seljuks, Turkish invaders, but the Fatimids re-established authority of Jerusalem and they were more tolerant, but it was too late, the 1st Crusaders were on their way.

Don't forget that one of the Crusades was against the people of Southern France. The Cathars or Albigensis. The locals loved these people and refused to attack them, as ordered by the Pope, thus when the Pope offered the land of the killed, as booty, many came and attacked from the region which is now Germany. It was an appalling massacre, which went on for years and established the beginning of the Inquisition.

"Saladin behaved with the utmost chivalry and generosity, granting clemency to the actions of the Christian inhabitants and sparing the churches - in stark contrast to the actions of the Crusaders upon their capture of the city eight years earlier." P. 185, Same Book As Above.

And don't forget Cyrus, the founder of the new Persian empire, who "...from the very beginning offered cultural autonomy to his heterogeneous subjects; respected - and gave protection to - their creeds and customs; and, where possible, entrusted their administration to one of their own leaders ..." He helped any Jews who wished to return to Jerusalem and helped pay for the rebuilding of the city and the Temple in Jerusalem.

Yes we are under attack by some evil people, but don't lose a sense of what our country stands for. Don't condemn or attack anyone solely based on their religion. There are evil men in all religions and there are enlightened men in all.