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April 1, 2015
Title: The Glory of the Crusades
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Steve Weidenkopf
with Steve Weidenkopf (www.CrusadesBook.com)
Part 1 of 3
There are many misconceptions about the Crusades.
First, some history… The
Crusades spanned over 600 years, beginning at the end of the 11th Century and
didn’t conclude until the 18th Century. This was not just one long war; The
Crusades were many battles, fought against different religious oppressors. For
instance, there were eight (8) different Crusades alone fought against the
Muslims in North Africa, Indonesia, and Egypt.
Steve Weidenkopf is a lecturer of Church History at the Notre Dame Graduate
School of Christendom College and author of The Glory of the Crusades. Steve is
here today to shed light on the truth about The Crusades. Why is it so important
to study them and to know the truth? Why do The Crusades make Christians seem so
awful?
Hitler invading Poland was not a defensive action. The Japanese bombing Pearl
Harbor was not a defensive action. They attacked on purpose, with deliberate
intentions. Listen in as Steve explains why The Crusades were vastly different
from these two events. “They were fought to recover ancient Christian territory
that had been conquered and over run and to prevent the persecution of
Christians and Jews who were living in the Holy Land,” Steve says.
You can find more on the Steve Weidenkopf [here].
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Title: Part 2 of 3 - The Glory of the Crusades
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Steve Weidenkopf
with Steve Weidenkopf (www.CrusadesBook.com)
In this second segment with
Steve Weidenkopf, he explains the seven misconceptions about The Crusades:
The Crusades were wars of unprovoked aggression. Steve says, “The Crusades are
often thought of as offensive military campaigns of Western Knights who had
nothing better to do than go kill peace-loving Muslims.”
The Crusaders were motivated primarily by greed and the prospect for plunder and
riches. “They were motivated by their love for God, love for their fellow
Christians who were being persecuted, and love for their own salvation.”
When Jerusalem was liberated in 1099, the Crusaders killed all the inhabitants
of the city; so much blood was spilled that it ran ankle deep. “There was
obviously some bloodshed, but the statement that every man, woman, and child was
murdered is absolutely false. It is estimated that only 3,000 people out of
30,000 lost their lives.”
The Crusades were colonial enterprises. “They were attempts to liberate ancient
Christian territory. Most Crusaders describe themselves as pilgrims and returned
home when the fighting was over.”
The Crusades were also wars against the Jews and should be seen as the first
Holocaust. “This is absolutely false. The few Crusaders who strayed and killed
Jews were condemned by the Church. Jews were protected and given shelter by
priests in the Church during the fighting.”
The Crusades were wars of conversion. “There is a fundamental distinction
between Jihad and the Christian conception of Holy War.” – Listen to the final
segment with Steve as explains this in more detail.
The Crusades are the source of modern tensions between Islam and the West. “The
modern Jihadists use The Crusades as way to recruit new soldiers to their cause.
However, when you look at the history, the first written information (in Arabic)
about The Crusades didn’t appear until 1899.”
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Title: Part 3 of 3 - The Glory of the Crusades
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Steve Weidenkopf
with Steve Weidenkopf (www.CrusadesBook.com)
FACT:
Jihad is incumbent upon all Muslims and is a foundational teaching of Islam.
Jihad will always rely on an offensive posture – convert or die, but The
Crusades were meant to liberate Christians, not persecute or convert.
This is vastly different, however, than most are taught in school these days.
Even many Christians believe that their ancestors were in the wrong! Soldiers
involved in the Holy Wars were strictly voluntary – they were not forced to
participate. They wanted to help their fellow Christians live long, happy lives
in the name of Jesus. Jihadists, however, only seek to kill those who do not bow
to Allah.
“They (Jihadists) use The Crusades as a vehicle propaganda to attack the
church and get people to reject the Faith,” Steve Weidenkopf explains. Many
scholars and historians, like Steve, are now attempting to spread the truth
about The Crusades, but unfortunately the Truth usually stays within their
circle. Steve hopes that his new book The Glory of the Crusades will shed more
light on the issue and convince people that The Crusades were a good thing.
You can get a copy of Steve Weidenkopf’s newest book The Glory of the
Crusades [here].
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