FREE ESSAY ON CONFLICT BETWEEN RELIGIONS

CONFLICT BETWEEN RELIGIONS

The conflict between the Christians and the Muslims, between 1098 and 1229, was the result
of political unrest; which was fueled the Muslims migrating into the Christian holy
lands, lead by Pope Urban II and carried on, throughout latter centuries by his
followers. What follows is a story of war, holy visions,unholy alliances, promises made
with fingers crossed, sieges and slaughters, the details of which fill volumes. 
Christianity, in its infancy, was a very threatened state. It was enriched with radical
ideas that called for the worship of a single god in place of the many dieties that had
ruled for centuries before. These radical concepts took a while to sink in and become the
root of what would be the modern era. The world of the latter 9th century and early 10th
century was in a state of turmoil, resulting from the recent adoption of Christianity as
the official religion of the modern world. In order to cement its hold on the masses, the
political heads of the day decided to quell all internal conflicts and unite against an
enemy whose destruction would help to further develop the hold that the Pope, and the
church, had on the world. 
The Muslims were originally a tight banded group of
followers of Muhammad and the religion of Islam. When the
prophet Muhammad died, however, the group lost it's center and thus began to unravel a
little and disperse. The Muslims slowly began to integrate into the Christian 'holy
lands', threatening the foundation of Christianity. This integration lead to unease
and gave root to the cause of the Crusades. It allowed for the Pope to issue official
doctrine which called for the removal of the muslims in a united effort by devout
Christians. 
A crusade is a holy war authorized, encouraged, and
supported by the Pope in the name of God and Christ. In order to justify a war, or the
need for war, the Pope proposed the issue as a defensive reaction to injury or aggression
and as an attempt to recover Christian territories lost to infidels. Pope Urban II 
initiated the first crusade as an attempt to unite the
conflicting Christian territories against a single and foreign foe, the Muslims.
Otto, better known as Pope Urban II, was born around 1042 and died 29 July 1099. On 12
March 1088, Otto was unanimously elected as Pope, taking the title of Urban II. His first
act was to proclaim his election to the world, and to acknowledge the princes and bishops
who had been loyal to Gregory, and ask for their continued allegiance: he declared his
intention of following the policy and example of his great predecessor--all
that he rejected, I reject, what he condemned I condemn, what he loved I embrace, what he
considered as Catholic, I confirm and approve. 
The First Crusade began in 1095 after the Byzantines,
threatened by Seljuk power, appealed to Pope Urban II for
military aid. Pope Urban, hoping to divert the Christian kings and princes from their
struggles with each other, and perhaps also seeing an opportunity to reunite the Eastern
and Western churches, called for a Truce of God among the rulers of Europe and urged them
to take the Holy Land from the Muslims.
Interestingly enough, Pope Urban II died before he could see Jerusalem fall to his
crusaders.
There was also the Byzantine empire, ruling from
Constantinople, whose emperor at this time was Alexius Comnenus.
To his East, the Turks were rapidly encroaching on his empire, and had begun attacking
pilgrims on their way to - and in -
Jerusalem, causing him great distress. He wrote to his friend
Robert, the Count of Flanders, in 1093, telling him about
supposed atrocities committed by the Turks on the Christian
pilgrims, and Robert passed this letter on to Pope Urban II.
Urban, an opportunist, saw this as a perfect way to solve some of his local problems. He
personally promoted a Holy Crusade to reclaim the Holy Lands from the barbarian Turks.
Thus, the First Crusade was launched in 1095.
The warriors of the crusades were known as the crusaders. It was a mixed group of people:
civilians, soldiers, noblemen, mercenaries, adventurers, and peasants. Anybody that felt
religiously compelled could become a solider in the crusades. All that was required to
begin their journey towards their religious callings was to make a public vow, which was
not distinguishable from, and was always based on, the vow to make a pilgrimage;
crusaders and pilgrims had the same legal status, being temporarily subjected to church
courts and enjoying ecclesiastical protection of their persons, properties and families.
They also needed deep religious convictions to guide
them to victory, honor, and heaven. These incentives were to good to pass up by many
Christians. 
To Arab historians, the Crusaders were a minor irritant, their invasion was one of a more
barbarian incursion; though not nearly as serious a threat as the Mongols were in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The Arab Empire, though united in Islam, was not
very united politically. Revolt, civil war, and assassination were common. But they had a
unique culture that fast spread its influences to the Western Europeans.
Without the passion of religious fervor, this venture was impossible. The volunteers had
to cross thousands of miles of unfamiliar and hostile country to conquer lands whose
strength was unknown. Yet so great was their belief that in 1099 they took Jerusalem,
establishing along the way principalities in Antioch, Edessa, and Tripoli. The Muslims
were unable to fend off the
Crusaders in the beginning, and offered them access to Jerusalem as pilgrims, rather than
invaders. However, the Muslims eventually began to mount effective counterattacks and
recaptured Aleppo and besieged Edessa, thus bringing on the unsuccessful Second Crusade.

The Crusades achieved no lasting results in terms of
military conquest, however, they were important in the
development of trade, and had long-range effects on Western
society (on everything from feudalism to fashion) are
indeterminable. Ironically, the Crusades also put an end to the centuries old rivalry
between the Arabs and Byzantines. By occupying Constantinople, the capital of their
Christian allies, in the Fourth Crusade, the Crusaders achieved what the Arabs had been
trying to do from the early days of Islam. Although the Byzantine Empire continued until
1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, it never recovered its former power
after the Fourth Crusade, and existed only in the half-light of history during its
remaining years. 
For the West, however, the Crusaders' greatest achievement was the opening of the eastern
Mediterranean to European shipping. The Venetians and Genoese established trading
colonies in Egypt, and luxury goods of the East found their way to European markets. In
the history of the Middle Ages, this was far more important than conquests resulting in
land. Control of the Eastern trade became a constantly recurring theme in later relations
between the European countries and the East, and in the nineteenth century was to lead to
widespread Western intervention. 
The Crusades were a pivotal point in the development of christianity. It was during this
time that the Catholic church cemented it's iron grip on Europe. Through the promise of
everlasting salvation and the sale of indulgences the church
secured many willing soliders. To die in the name of God was an
honorable way to go, and it was believed, that to die fighting
for God in the 'holy land' that no wrong could befall you.
I, personally, believe that the crusades were neither just
nor justified in the political aspect. Many lives were lost
unnecessarily in persuit of a false cause. The heads of the
church, as they ruled over the heads of state, were insecure
about the longivity of their 'rein' and thus decided to exercise
the power their positions encompassed. It isn't morally
acceptable, ethicially correct, and lacks values one is taught
when you are to kill others for your well being. The fact that
an individual would consider death as a way for survival purposes
is whole heartedly unjust! Basically, the Pope instilles in the
Crusaders that there were people in the holy land, and he
covinced his followers that the only way to do 'right' for the
land, faith, and morals is to fight for what you believe in. The
political reprecussions will be felt for all of time.
Religion, however, tends to complicate the issue a little. 
When the point of the war shifted from land to God the crusaders
were no longer just killing their enemies, the were fighting for
God. God, being the ultimate relligion of this time, was
definetly understandable to fight for. Infact, soldiers, who
didn't fight for his God were punished severely, by being exiled
from the holy land. Basically adding, that the Crusades as a
spiritual revival was affecting all sections of society, which
was characterized by an obbsession with the consequences of sin. 
There was a belief that a man's actions, however unworthy, could
help him to salvation. Found both in the Old and New testaments,
prophets and saints and even of Christ accepting the use of
violence as a punishment for sin and as a means of defense
against injury. 
Basically, meaning that the mercy of God would take account
of waht a man had done when it was his time to be judged. Dieing
in persuit of holy tasks, in an attempt to uphold the faith and
to educated the ignorant was honorable.
Even understanding how faith ties into the debateable issue
of 'right' and 'wrong', 'moral' or 'immoral', the problem is seen
in God's commandments. God's commandments read that we should
love our neighbors. In order to love your neighbor, you can't
attack them and kill them off. Another commandment is 'Thou Shalt
Not Kill', therefore, by killing others in the Crusades, you are
breaking God's commandments.