The Crusades

In the eleventh century, Christian-Muslim relations took a decidedly downward turn.

In response to news of atrocities such as the persecution of Christians and the destruction of the Holy Sepulchre (together with various political motives), Europeans attempted to restore Christian rule in the Holy Land - too often committing atrocities of their own.

Unconsciously or otherwise, different kinds of motives – personal, political, ethnic, and religious – were often mixed together in kings and caliphs, popes and peasants. It was a complex time, not without heroism and even occasional sanctity, yet full of brutality.

In some respects it was thus not unlike our own time, although one must be careful of anachronistic views of the past.

Later chroniclers would simplistically present the Crusades either as a pure exercise in devout chivalry or as a pure exercise in evil colonialism.

Also mistaken is a contemporary view that the Crusades are an object lesson in the alleged dangers of religion. (Again, the motives involved were not purely religious. Furthermore, humans are a violent species and much more blood throughout history has been spilled by irreligious people such as Stalin, Hitler, Qin Shi Huangdi, et al.)

This brings me to a historically and morally problematic movie epic about the time of the Crusades titled “Kingdom of Heaven.” Ut Unum Sint links to a thoughtful review on DecentFilms.com.