"Christian Jihad" – once an oxymoron

The first thing I’ll say is that this book was not an easy read.  Secondly, most of my review will be an analysis of various responses that have resulted from this controversial topic.  Emir & Ergun Caner, in my opinion, presented a rather unbiased, objective, historical representation of this dark age.  From the early formations of Augustine’s just war criteria to the Spanish Inquisition, they provide us with a comprehensive yet concise overview of “the Crusades and killing in the name of Christ.”  They highlight the abuses of the Papacy in manipulating the masses, taking advantage of their ignorance, and promising salvation to all worthy crusading participants.  Many of the accounts in this book are nauseating, at times causing you to tell yourself that “ignorance really is bliss.” 

The Crusades were tragic.  They attest to the depths of our self-deception, greed, lust for power, and utter depravity.  Moreover, they bear witness of the black shrouds of darkness present in the chambers of an unregenerate  human heart (notice the emphasis on unregenerate).  So we can ask:  Were the majority of the participants in these events authentic Christians who were regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit?  Whatever the case, a close examination (heck, even a brief perusal) of Scripture unequivocally demonstrates that Christ does not advocate the type of atrocities committed during this terrible epoch of church history.

Augustine of Hippo once said, “Never judge a philosophy by its abuse.”  But is it not human nature to judge the validity of a philosophy by the practice (or malpractice thereof) of that philosophy’s adherents?  ”Judge not, lest you be judged” has transformed into the obstinate fight song of our generation.  It’s as if those words grant us a license to live in moral degradation, rejecting any authority over us that demands higher ethical submission.  The fallacy present in choking out a particular religion because of its hypocritical following has become dominant in our postmodern world.  This ideology has pointedly honed in on and attacked the Christian faith, deeming this faith inadequate become of its abuse.