If you’re talking about a 1000 years of losing wars to Muslims, sure. But how about you guys actually look at the teachings of Jesus and focus on those?
Discussion
“Christianity is not a religion of niceness; it is a call to heroic virtue.”
— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Focus on the teachings of Jesus directly, not of blood thirsty third parties with an inferiority complex
Very truncated view of Christendom.
How about we talk about the actual teachings of the faith and not just focus on the wars?
I'm not the one who brought up the wars. My point is that to think of Christendom as merely or mainly being comprised of wars against the Mohammadens is flattening all that Christendom was and all that it produced.
The picture that prompted the comment was of crusaders.
Yes. But my point still stands.
The image represents an aspect of Christian history, but doesn't speak to all of what Christendom was.
I do not assume ill intent behind your comment. That said, being told to focus on Jesus' teachings rather than discuss Christendom, or her wars, as if these things stood in contradiction to one another, comes across as condescending. Our fathers are worthy of our remembrance and our honor, and if the West is going to have a future, much needs to be retrieved from her past. This doesn't mean we are not rooted in Christ's teachings. In fact, it bears witness that we are.
I appreciate the thoughtful discussion. History is complex, and no civilization is without its wars. That said, if we are to talk about history honestly, Christian-led nations have engaged in more wars than any other group in recorded history. Meanwhile, under Muslim rule, the Holy Land saw extended periods of peace where Christians, Jews, and Muslims all lived and worshiped freely.
Today, under Jewish rule, we see a stark contrast—Muslims and even many Christians are excluded. Perhaps instead of revisiting old battles between Muslims and Christians, we should recognize who benefits most from keeping us divided. Unity in justice and peace is a far greater legacy than war.
Likewise.
History is complex, and while I don't deny that many wars have occurred in lands under Christian rule, that is inevitable for two reasons: The first is that mankind is sinful. The second is that Christendom has spanned some 2000 years.
However, we also must recognize that not all war is the same. There is just war and unjust war. There is defensive war and offensive war. With some exceptions, nearly all the crusades were defensive wars. As were many pre-crusading wars like those against the Danes.
But as I said, Christendom is more than her wars, just or otherwise, and honoring our fathers as well as retrieval from the past is essential for the West to have any real future.