The Crusades

The Crusades

Were the Crusades an indication of how powerful the Christian faith had become in Europe, or a sign of weakness within the faith? It was no doubt a major sign of weakness. In no way did the Crusades benefit the Christian faith then, and it certainly creates somewhat of a stir in today's spiritual arguments. The Crusades was not an act of godly men overcoming an evil enemy, rather, it was an act of rampage throughout all of the Middle East. The Crusades were meant to be a rescue of previously Christian controlled lands from the oppressing Muslim people. This turned into the barbaric tribes of men conquering everything that stood in there way. During this time the Lord's name was abused and blasphemed. Not praised and shared with encountered people. These men destroyed and murdered anything or anyone in there way. The Crusades were an unbiblical, brutal, and evil time with the conquering of land through war and violence.

As stated in document 12.1, Pope Urban II was the first to send out a call for all "servants of God" to take up arms and rescue the Middle East from Muslim expansion. This land that was now in control of the Muslims was previously the land of the Christians. When the Muslims invaded this area they savaged many of the cities and destroyed several churches. Pope Urban stated that every soul that believed in God should bear arms and help their Christian neighbors to the East. The Pope said this was the very word of God. He also stated that "all who die by the way shall have immediate remission of sins." Up to this point I can see the reason for so many people willing to fight for this cause. There is a strong will in the Europe Nation to rescue the Holy Land from the Muslim Invasion. I think the Crusades were started with good intentions for the better of all the nations. But, where as followers of Christ fought and died for what they thought was the very word of God, there were a very large percentage of the people who fought for personal gain.

Most of the people involved in the Crusades were not Christians, although many of them claimed to be fighting for God. Pope Urban stated that "all who die by the way shall have immediate remission of sins." That is all well and good, but show me where in the Bible there is justification for conquering lands for personal wealth, murdering innocent men, women and children, and destroying entire