A Book Report of Christian Jihad

Within the first few pages of the book “Christian Jihad”, by Ergun and Emir Caner, I was spinning in a whirlwind of controversy. In this post 9/11 world that we live, I found myself drawn to hate the Character whose story opens the introduction of the book. How could I sit and read such detailed facts about what a killer feels just before ending the lives of whom I presumed were innocent, and feel anything but hatred for such terrorism. But to my amazement, the story ended nothing like how I presumed it would, much like the book as a whole, and for that matter, much like my feelings for the subject.
I would never be asked to sum up an entire book with a simple one word explanation, but if I had to do so, I would say this book was about change. Not just a change in time and atmosphere of history, but an actual changing of the mindset of religion, war, killing, suffering, law, politics, salvation and, well anything else that we seem to be so willing to put our trust in today.
The Caners try to help shed some light on the changes that have taken place in the world in the last 2000 years, as many people, especially me, are in the dark. The biggest change comes just a few hundred years after Christ ascended into heaven. The political atmosphere goes from killing those who professed the name of Christ to being partners with religious leaders in a relatively short period of time. And soon we were seeing pacifism and a Christ-like nature evolve into the Crusades, and killing in the name of the very person you profess. However, I must point out that if given the option of salvation or damnation, I myself may have picked up a sword in that particular time.
The changes that were detailed next by the Caners enlightened me very much. I am not sure if this “I have always played on the winning team” bubble that I have been living in would have ever been penetrated if it were not from some of the things that I read in this book. The religious world had not only got over the fact that killing in the name of Christ was ok as long as it was against those who sought to kill you, but it was now acceptable to kill those who believed in Christ. The portion of the book about the inquisitions left me feeling more ashamed than I have felt in a long time.
It is almost impossible for me to fathom the idea it was once impossible to publicly say that you believed it Christ, in fear of being killed. Then it was hard to say that you did not believe in Christ, for the same fate would be brought upon you also. And eventually you had to be careful of just how you believed in Christ, because persecution would soon find even that person.
The change that affected me the most is the change in my own life, after reading such a powerful book. And the heresy that so many died for just a few hundred years ago seems so much like the beliefs that I hold strongly to today. Would I have been so strong to stand up for what I believed in, in the face of persecution? I can only hope that I am not faced with the option today or in the future. And I hope to never forget those who did stand so bravely.