Just seen this on Aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/the-crusades-an-arab-perspective/
You really get the impression what in the Western World we have been brainwashed about what the Crusades really meant.
- Why did the Crusaders sack Jerusalem, destroying many sites Holy to Christians and kill Christians in the process? If this was about establishing the Christian religion (which obviously it wasn’t) why did the actions of the Crusaders run contrary to the words of the figurehead of their religion Christ/Messiah – “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” – John 10:10. Seems like you really can’t give people life by killing them in huge numbers, that really is a no brainer.
- In fact Christians and Muslims lived together side by side for many years without this level of conflict, even Muslim historians recognise that. So, in fact it seems that the Crusades drove a divde between Christians and Muslims and has brought about a culture of fear and suspicion that exists to this day.
- Why do current day leaders refer to their exploits in the middle east as crusades against terror?
Christianity has so often been misrepresented by people of violence, and it brings the true worth of our faith into disrepute, and hides tha value of it from the eyes of many people. I think the Crusades and the actions of the churches, monarcs and governments invovled in this reign of tyranny were an absolute disgrace.