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What if you attended the local Catholic church at the time of the Inquisition and Crusades that was performing these things. Would you be for it or against it? You have said that they were wrong, but you refuse to answer the question. Would you blindly follow that church?

You still seem to think that the Church was in control of the Inquisitions. It was not. This makes the question mostly moot. But let's pretend.

If I, 21st Century Dave, were transported back in time to Spain, would I support a Church which did these things. No, I don't think so. Torturing people to make them convert is not my idea of a good thing.

But there were very few people with 21st century ideas in their heads at that time. This is the point you all seem to miss. Were your Churches in existence in barbaric times, they would surely act the part. It is convenient to look back with modern eyes and tsk tsk things.

Yes, the Crusades were absolutely wrong. Christ tells us not to resort to violence. We are to turn the other cheek. We are not to kill those who do not convert. That is NOT Christ's testimony.

Are you a pacifist? Do you think Jesus was? The Crusades were not to "kill those who do not convert" but to eliminate the threat creeping Islam presented to Europe. By active self-defense, much like America vows to do today. The wars in the Balkans are partly fed from this same tension between civilization and Islam. Defending civilization from Islam is not a crime. I will disagree with you here 100 per cent.

You still seem to think that the Church was in control of the Inquisitions. It was not. This makes the question mostly moot. But let's pretend.

That is the Catholic spin on it, sure. What is the reality? Lets consider the facts. Fact one, the office of the Pope had been fraudulently extended the right to throne and dethrone Kings. The King being Catholic could be excommunicated for not following the will of the Church. The King could also readily find himself before an inquisitional tribunal. The Pope was pretty much an emperor - having power to call up troops from France and Spain for it's Holy War against Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Crusades. Now. Who are we to believe was in control there? The Darkages were named for the effect the Church had in excercising its fraudulently gained powers over Europe. But, it's all someone else's fault according to you guys. There was a big boogie man lurking elsewhere on the grassy knoll that really did it all. The Catholic church was just duped - right... LOL. Give us a break Dave.