To: Mo1
8 posted on
05/29/2002 7:11:56 PM PDT by
Spar
To: Spar
Here's a historian setting the record straight about the much-maligned Crusades:
The Real History of the Crusades Misconceptions about the Crusades are all too common. The Crusades are generally portrayed as a series of holy wars against Islam led by power-mad popes and fought by religious fanatics. They are supposed to have been the epitome of self-righteousness and intolerance, a black stain on the history of the Catholic Church in particular and Western civilization in general. A breed of proto-imperialists, the Crusaders introduced Western aggression to the peaceful Middle East and then deformed the enlightened Muslim culture, leaving it in ruins....
....the Crusades to the East were in every way defensive wars. They were a direct response to Muslim aggressionan attempt to turn back or defend against Muslim conquests of Christian lands.
Christians in the eleventh century were not paranoid fanatics. Muslims really were gunning for them. While Muslims can be peaceful, Islam was born in war and grew the same way. From the time of Mohammed, the means of Muslim expansion was always the sword.
To: Spar
Thanks for the links
Aren't these the same folks that Maddie "The Troll" Halfbright keeps defending??
14 posted on
05/29/2002 7:23:39 PM PDT by
Mo1
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