In the spy thriller, Most Wanted, the main protagonist Tom makes reference to the Crusades unleashing a cycle of violence that continues today almost one thousand years later. Is there any basis to the claim that historically militant Christians started attacking the peaceable Muslims and the War on Terror is a latter day Crusade? Remember, President Bush’s reference to a “Crusade” against terrorism, following the 9/11 attacks, which caused huge controversy and raised fears of a renewed ‘clash of civilizations.’ Why was the reaction to his statement so vehement? What ancient flames of religious hatred and mistrust were fanned by this remark?
Perspectives are radically different—Muslims say they are the innocent victims; there is no direct link between Islam and Terror; and Islam does not promote violence.
“The history of the crusades is filled with the mercilessness of the crusaders and the kind-heartedness of the Muslims. The Muslims were massacred everywhere the crusaders arrived, while the Christians were treated kindly by the Muslims.” – www.albalagh.net
“One of the bizarre myths perpetuated about Islam, during the centuries of mistrust during and after the Crusades, is that Muslim armies forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword. Unfortunately this myth survives to this day.” – www.whyislam.org
On the other hand there are those that accuse the Muslims of a spreading propaganda in an attempt to disguise the true nature of Islam. What is undeniable is the rapid territorial expansion of Muslim armies in the two centuries after Mohammed, which gave rise to the massive Christian fear and suspicion that eventually led to the Crusades.
Expansion under the Prophet Mohammad, 612-632
Expansion during the First three caliphs, 632-655
Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750
These fears continue to be expressed today in a different form related to Islam and terrorism.
“You think you know about Islam, but did you know:
- Islam teaches that Muslims must wage war to impose Islamic Law on non-Muslim states.
- American Muslim groups are engaged in a huge cover-up of Islamic doctrine and history.
- Today’s jihad terrorists have the same motives and goals as the Muslims who fought the Crusaders.
- The Crusades were defensive conflicts.
- Muslim persecution of Christians has continued for 13 centuries and still goes on.”
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) by Robert Spencer
Such statements are at best a vast over-simplification on both sides. Although there is some historic basis for these arguments, each side chooses to ignore the ‘inconvenient’ facts. Those that claim the War on Terror is a modern Crusade are guilty of forgeting who is the true aggressor and cannot realistically believe that the West’s response is a ‘Holy War’. Moreover, many prefer to close their eyes to the real problem, which has little to do with religion itself, but is a distortion and abuse of history and religion by those with a political agenda intent on stirring-up trouble.
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