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Most of us recognize the crusades as something evil that was done in the name of christianity. When someone discusses Islamic terrorism they're told "but how about the Christian crusades?" Catholics are usually blamed for the crusades but how bad were they? Actually the crusades are justified by the bible and the church. The crusades began after almost 400 years of Muslim attacks on Christian territories. Muslims have conquered most of the middle east that originally belonged to the eastern bizantine empire. But then muslims began attacking christendom itself (Europe) and conquered Spain and costantinople. Pope urban II felt threatened and commanded the kings of Europe to unite under the name of the church and defend costantinople and then go towards the holy land (Jerusalem).
But is killing to defend yourself justified by the new tastment? Yes jesus commanded his disciples to carry swords for defense. Luke 22:36:"and he that has no sword let him sell his garment and buy one"
Also there is lot of saints that supported the crusades and even fought on the crusades. One of my favorite saints fought to liberate Egypt from the saracens "king Louis IX" of France, he was also famous for sitting with the poor and peasants in france and helping them and always attended mass unlike many dukes and noblemen. And even saint Jean of arc supported the crusades, she quoted in her letter "in a later hand: “17 July 1429, at Rheims”] the King of France and yourself should make a good firm lasting peace. Fully pardon each other willingly, as faithful Christians should do; and if it should please you to make war, then go against the saracens"
The saracens is the medieval term used by Christians to describe the muslims.
I wish the catholic church can become like how it was in medieval times