The Crusades: War in the Name of God
For those familiar with the Bible, the Sea of Galilee arouses peaceful images of fishermen casting their nets, and a rabbi named Jesus inspiring crowds of people seated on gentle slopes leading to the shore. Yet on a rugged hill overlooking this ancient lake, more recent history provides a contrasting image. On July 4, 1187, the Muslim sultan Saladin defeated…
Holy War and the Bible
Jihad--"War in the name of God." Even though all religions want to be seen as peace-loving, history shows that most wars, including the Crusades of the Middle Ages, have been fueled by the religious beliefs of competing armies. The word "Jihad" comes from an ancient Arabic word, but holy war didn't begin with the Muslims. The Bible itself contains the…
