Christians in the crusades?

Question

So, a Catholic friend of mine told me that the Muslims were to blame for the crusades, and the Christians were only acting in self defense?

I was surprised to hear this, but apparently the Islamic empire attacked the byzantine empire in order to attain the trade rich city of Constantinople. The Byzantines were over run and called to their Christen brethren in Europe. The pope responded to their cries of help and advised the feudal kings to send aid. Multiple waves of relief were sent (dubbing them crusades) because for the most part the Christians were getting destroyed.

Then even the time that the Christians did finally take back the byzantine empire they STOPPED at the Islamic empire borders.

To me this sounds like self defense, but is it correct? Has history been written by those who shout the loudest?

imacatholic2 · Accepted Answer

Muslim armies had conquered Syria, Persia, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Spain, Sicily, Southern Italy, Cyprus, Rhodes, Sardinia, Majorca, Crete, and Malta which had been some of the most heavily Christian areas in the world. They attacked Rome and came within 100 miles of Paris before being pushed back.

Thousands, and possibly millions, of Christians died during this drive to eventually bring the entire world under Islam.

In addition, thousands of Christian travelers to the Holy Land were being killed, robbed, or kidnapped for ransom.

The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to check the advance of the Muslims and regain control of the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

If this defensive war was not fought then we would probably all be Muslim today.

I am sure that some atrocities were committed by individuals of both sides during this war but by most people's judgment this was a just war.

For more information, see:
+ The Crusaders by Régine Pernoud 
+ God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades (2009) by Rodney Stark 
+ Islam at the Gates (2008) by Diane Moczar 
+ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
+ Crash Course on the Crusades by Steve Weidenkopf http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/crash-course-on-the-crusades

With love in Christ.

Light and Truth · Answer

Crusades were religious conflicts in the High Middle Ages through to the end of the Late Middle Ages conducted by Catholic Europe against Muslims, pagans, heretics, and peoples under the ban of excommunication. The adopted emblem was the cross with the term "crusade" being derived from the French term for taking up the cross. Pope Urban II proclaimed the first crusade in 1095 with the stated goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem which led to an intermittent 200-year struggle to reclaim the Holy Land that ended in failure.

phoenix marco · Answer

I am not entirely familiar with the history of the crusades, but as far as I know, that is not correct. The Christians (and I am a Christian) went out there on their own trying to convert other people (not just Muslims) to their religion. It wasn't self defense at all. There is a time period during which Spain was at war with northern Africa over religious and political (land related) reasons, but that is separate, I think...

Anonymous · Answer

Has history been written by those who shout the loudest?
^
That's why the cults shout the loudest as long as people are convinced they have to put up with it..

-atheist

"It is not the love of men but rather the impotency of that love that keeps the Christian of today from...burning us."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

True Fundamental Religionists are flesh-burners!

Anonymous · Answer

many Christians were killed during the crusades.  catholicism is not Christianity.  do some research and you will find what i am saying is the truth. 

catholicism is of satan, as is its sister, islam.

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Christians in the crusades?

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