It is appalling how little those in Catholic higher education think of the persecution of Christians in the Middle East as opposed to their endless concern over the faux persecution of the “LGBT community” in these United States.
Off the top of my head I think that might be true. However, they allied with them against other Muslims. The goal of the Crusades was to take back the Holy Land. One factor in war: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The Orthodox in Constantinople were innocent bystanders. The Muslims in the Holy Land had taken that land from the Christians.
Technically the Christians didn’t take it from the Jews. The Roman Empire did. They expelled the Jews from the Holy Land. But the Roman Empire turned Christian with Theodosius and thus acquired the Holy Land.
I wouldn’t go that far. The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire around the last years of the 300s. So that is more than 200 years. Hardly taking the proceeds of a crime. I doubt anyone even thought about it that way. That would be like the United States giving back he lands east of the Mississippi to the Native Americans because we took them. And the Christians didn’t even take the Holy Land.
As for Christians banning Jews from Jerusalem. I’ve never heard that.
Oh really?
I hope I’m not wrong but I read that the Byzantines banned Jews from Jerusalem. And when the Muslims took over they allowed Jews to return. And when the Crusaders took over they expelled the Jews once more. And whe Saladin took over he again allowed Jews to return.
Yes the Fatimids were rejoicing when the Crusaders came to fight the Seljuks! They actually had some kind of “alliance” (non aggression pact) with each other. (Not for long though until they made it to Jerusalem)
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