[prairiebreeze]

The more I read and learn about Pope Benedict the more I like him. Also, it's interesting to review the time spans of the crusades, given at the end of the article. Even though the dates apparently aren't universally agree upon.

[vox_freedom]

Remember Lepanto!!

Battle of Lepanto wikipedia link

All of Europe and the world can thank the Catholic Church and personally Pope Pius V for saving them from the grip of Islamic rule since 1571. Not said in the above article is how St. Pope Pius V was divinely inspired in urging/using the Rosary to beseech our Blessed Mother which resulted in the battle's victory.

The Rosary defeated the Muslims at Lepanto
Read it, and become informed about how True Faith defeated the enemy.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Excuse me,but To the best of my memory from history lessons, the crusades were launched in self defence against the Islamic barbarians who had overan much of europe.

[Eagleami]

...the mistaken view had taken hold in the West as well as the Arab world that the Crusades were “an unprovoked attack by Europe on the Islamic world”. In reality, however, Christians had been persecuted after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem.

The history revisionists will be deeply saddened.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

This world would be a better place if the Crusades had succeeded.

[Alex Murphy]

The late Pope John Paul II sought to achieve Muslim- Christian reconciliation by asking “pardon” for the Crusades during the 2000 Millennium celebrations.

Ping to read later. If the above is true (and I'm not sure it is), JPII's esteem just lost a couple dozen points in my estimation...

[A CA Guy]

The Crusades was about putting the Muslims back in their own countries again after they tried to take over the world.

I think someone from the cult of Islam will be setting a bomb off eventually at the Vatican and they for Muslims all hell will break loose, starting with 1.3 pissed of Catholics world wide.

[truemiester]

People seem to forget that Syria, Lebanon, the area called Palestine and especially Egypt were all Christian.

ST:TOS "Omega GLory". "We have taken the last of the Holy places. That which was ours is ours again!"

[redgolum]

A thread about one of my favorite parts of history and I missed it!

However, the Pope, who is due to visit Turkey in November, has in the past suggested that Turkey’s Muslim culture is at variance with Europe’s Christian roots.

I thought that was a no brainer. Turkey is at best mildly anti Christian, if not totally against it. Of course keeping Turkey out of the EU is like trying to close the door to the chicken coop after the fox was already inside of it.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"The Crusades are seen by many Muslims as acts of violence that have underpinned Western aggression towards the Arab world ever since. Followers of Osama bin Laden claim to be taking part in a latter-day “jihad against the Jews and Crusaders”."

The Crusades are seen as acts of violence, because that's what they were. It PROVES Christians have a propensity toward violence, just as anyone else. As for our BUDDY, Osama, he is pure violence through and through, and is simply USING The Crusades, as an excuse. Just as rioters look for an excuse to riot. So, don't fall for this self-serving interpretation. He's a nut, and that's the end of the story...

[Invincibly Ignorant]

I'm sorry. No I'm not. Yes I am. No I'm not.
typical.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

No mention of Mazinkert!

Besides the 1009 Muslim change of policy in Jerusalem, the disaster at Mazinkert, where the Roman Emperor Romanus IV was captured by the Turks, and the Turks swarmed across Anatolia, causing the Greek Romans to flee east forever, was the main catalyst for the Crusades. The original intent of the Crusade was to destroy the Turkish states on the Anatolian high plain, and then march on to Jerusalem to complete the reconquests of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine Roman Emperor Basil the Great.

[Porterville]

Yes, we are winning and changing minds of the passive. No bigger evil than doing nothing in the face of evil.

[TAdams8591]

Marking.

[Plumrodimus]

Our Lutheran High School has as it's sports team name the "Crusaders." Hurrah.

[LK44-40]

article for FYI...and some excellent posts

[Antoninus]

The Crusades are seen by many Muslims as acts of violence that have underpinned Western aggression towards the Arab world ever since.

Oh right. Like the Muslim conquests of the Christian lands of Syria, North Africa, Spain, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, etc. had nothing to do with aggression.

When exactly did British writers become such panty-wearing dhimmis?

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping.

[nutmeg]

Wasn't sure if you had seen this...