Remember, a Saint is one who keeps the Laws of Yahweh. Please note that aside from the True Believers (Saints) of Yahweh, the Muslim or Islamic people were also targeted in these crusades, as the following excerpts reveal. Again I say, this is still taking place today. The following article is from the Catholic Encyclopedia at newadvent.org. The origin of the word may be traced to the cross made of cloth and worn as a badge on the outer garment of those who took part in these enterprises. Since the Middle Ages the meaning of the word crusade has been extended to include all wars undertaken in pursuance of a vow, and directed against infidels, i.e. against Mohammedans, pagans, heretics, or those under the ban of excommunication. At this point, I would like to point out the definitions of the words infidel and heretic from the American Heritage Dictionary. in·fi·del - One who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine, system, or principle her·e·tic - A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church Now notice the word dissent from this same source. dis·sent - 1. Difference of opinion or feeling; disagreement. 2. The refusal to conform to the authority or doctrine of an established church; nonconformity. From these definitions, we see that one classified as an infidel or heretic is one who refuses to accept or conform to the universal religion of Catholicism. The following paragraph clearly shows that the crusades were, and still are, initiated by the popes to bring all people under their subjection by means of threat and force. The idea of the crusade corresponds to a political conception...this supposes a union of all peoples and sovereigns under the direction of the popes. All crusades were announced by preaching. After pronouncing a solemn vow, each warrior received a cross from the hands of the pope or his legates, and was thenceforth considered a soldier of the Church. This should bring to mind the Prophecy in: .Daniyl 11:31— And the army will stand on his part... Crusaders were also granted indulgences and temporal privileges, such as exemption from civil jurisdiction, inviolability of persons or lands, etc. The popes alone had maintained a just estimate of Christian unity; they realized to what extent the interests of Europe were threatened by the Byzantine Empire and the Mohammedan tribes, and they alone had a foreign policy whose traditions were formed under Leo IX and Gregory VII. The reform effected in the Church and the papacy through the influence of the monks of Cluny had increased the prestige of the Roman pontiff in the eyes of all Christian nations; hence none but the pope could inaugurate the international movement that culminated in the Crusades. ...the pope himself addressed the assembled multitudes, exhorting them to go forth and rescue the Holy Sepulchre. Amid wonderful enthusiasm and cries of God wills it! all rushed towards the pontiff to pledge themselves by vow to depart for the Holy Land and receive the cross of red material to be worn on the shoulder. At the same time the pope sent letters to all Christian nations, and the movement made rapid headway throughout Europe.. The Crusades The Crusades were a series of military campaigns first inaugurated and sanctioned by the papacy that were undertaken between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Originally, the Crusades were Christian Holy Wars to recapture Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims, then to defend Christian-held Jerusalem, but some were directed against other targets, such as the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars of southern France, the Fourth Crusade which conquered Orthodox Christian Constantinople, and Crusades targeting Jews, non-conformist Christians, and un-Christianized populations living in Europe. Initially, the Crusades had the blessing of both the Western (Catholic) Church under the Pope and of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Byzantine Emperor. However, the Emperors withdrew their support as their own subjects became targets of Crusading efforts to root out what they saw as Christian heresy or paganism. Killing Muslims, Jews, or heretics was regarded as an act of merit, rewarded by paradise, and forced conversion was also widespread, although many chose death to renunciation of faith. From the Christian perspective until recent times, the Crusades were seen as wars of liberation, not aggression, aimed at restoring Christian sovereignty over the Holy Land. The Crusades initially elevated the authority of the papacy as the authoritative spiritual and temporal power in Europe prior to the emergence of nation-states. New World Encyclopedia The Crusades - Long-Term Effects Impact on the Catholic Church The Catholic Church played a critical role in the Crusades thus leaving lasting effects on the Churchs influence and presence in Eastern Europe. The Crusades at first increased the wealth and power of the Papacy. Wealth of churches and monasteries were increased through conquered land. Estates were sold to the church for a fraction of their real price. With the land the Church was able to gain power. Along with these the church still received the ordinary flow of gifts. Enthusiastic members brought money or items to donate, greatly increasing its wealth. The effects of the Church during the actual crusades were prominent in the daily lives of everyone in Western Europe. The Catholic Church encouraged young men to conquer the holy land in the name of Christianity. Feeling obligated to follow the pope people enthusiastically supported and participated in the crusades. Feeling the war was for a higher cause, knights and the peasant armies fought with a ferocity not seen in the average political wars. This left an effect scarring generations of Muslims and Jews living in the areas of the holy land. The Crusades greatly increased the power of the Church. They allowed the Church new-found political abilities like tax collecting. Another result of the crusades was the first schism between the Byzantines and the Catholic Westerners. Great Schism The Great Schism, also called the East-West Schism, divided Christendom into Western (Latin) and Eastern (Greek) branches, which then became the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, respectively. Usually dated to 1054, the Schism was the result of an extended period of tension and sometimes estrangement between then Latin and Greek Churches. The break became permanent after the sack of Byzantium Constantinople by Western Christians in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade. The primary causes of the Great Schism were the dispute over the authority of the Western papacy to make rulings affecting the whole Church... New World Encyclopedia The End of the Medieval Crusades The End of the Medieval Crusades The crusading movement came to an end by the close of the thirteenth century. Reasons why the Crusades Failed Reasons why the Crusades failed. In the first place, there was the inability of eastern and western Europe to cooperate in supporting the holy wars. A united Christendom might well have been invincible. But the bitter antagonism between the Greek and Roman churches effectually prevented all unity of action. middle-ages.org According to historians, the crusades came to an end. According to the Prophets of Yahweh, the crusades will continue until this religious system is no longer in power. .Daniyl 7:21-22— 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the Saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the Saints of Yahweh; and the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdoms. The hatred for Yahweh and the Inspired Holy Scriptures was so extreme that they wanted to kill anyone who lived by any part of the bible. Yet, they wanted everyone to believe that the popes were righteous and could bring Eternal Life to their followers. They only wanted to take what they said belonged to the holy roman empire.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 06:25:22 +0000
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