crusade?

[Aicd]

In the last few years many people have called the war on terrorism a holy crusade. While I don't think reclamation of holy land and the like is what our government had in mind, it's interesting to think about the idea of a church sanctioned holy crusade in this day and age. Although the churches of Christianity share different beliefs and traditions, do you think they would unite if directly threatened by radical Islam or other currently "threatening" ideals? I also wonder how much power the Vatican still weilds. I'm sure it is vastly more in parts of Europe than it is in the USA, but would Christians be as ready to rise to the occasion and go to war for their religious beliefs if asked to as say Jewish or Muslim peoples have shown to be in the last century?

I hope I don't step on any toes, but i'd like to get some opinions on these questions and topics.

 

[Snowbear]

I've also heard terrorism itself called a 'holy war.'
Though it's usually called jihad rather than crusade.

 

[James the Persian]

In the last few years many people have called the war on terrorism a holy crusade. While I don't think reclamation of holy land and the like is what our government had in mind, it's interesting to think about the idea of a church sanctioned holy crusade in this day and age. Although the churches of Christianity share different beliefs and traditions, do you think they would unite if directly threatened by radical Islam or other currently "threatening" ideals? I also wonder how much power the Vatican still weilds. I'm sure it is vastly more in parts of Europe than it is in the USA, but would Christians be as ready to rise to the occasion and go to war for their religious beliefs if asked to as say Jewish or Muslim peoples have shown to be in the last century?

I hope I don't step on any toes, but i'd like to get some opinions on these questions and topics.

The Vatican never had the power to mobilise Christendom in the way you seem to assume. The Crusades were purely a western Christian phenomenon and the Orthodox Church only took part in any to the extent that we were he victims of the fourth Crusade. Understandably, then, the term Crusade is about as popular in Orthodox Christian countries as it is in Muslim ones and no, I can't see us ever taking part in one. I would go to war to defend my Church and faith if I could see no other option, but that would and could only ever be a defensive war. We have no just war theory in Orthodoxy and that (defense of one's family and faith) is about the only time when personally I can see the evil of war being outweighed by the evil consequences of not fighting.

James

 

[Quiddity]

James understanding is similar to mine, but I usually stay away from even mentioning the Roman Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodoxy. There was no such separation in the eyes of the people. James and I disagree on the date but he is correct in noting that the Crusades were a western response. I will note that although the East did not form a military offense like the West, that doesn’t mean they weren’t defending themselves. The East did in fact ask for help from the West. So although they weren’t the ones marching and doing what the West was doing, they did have a vested interest.

 

[James the Persian]

James understanding is similar to mine, but I usually stay away from even mentioning the Roman Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodoxy. There was no such separation in the eyes of the people. James and I disagree on the date but he is correct in noting that the Crusades were a western response. I will note that although the East did not form a military offense like the West, that doesn’t mean they weren’t defending themselves. The East did in fact ask for help from the West. So although they weren’t the ones marching and doing what the West was doing, they did have a vested interest.

You have no argument from me in this. The Empire was certainly defending itself (and, frankly, such is the responsibility of any state - to defend its people) and there was nothing wrong with asking for help from the west (despite the estrangement which, you are correct, was not so hardened as now but nonetheless there was no concelebration between the two sides after 1054, both seeing the other as under an anathema, so we were not in communion).

I do find it unfortunate that the response from the west was to mount their own war of conquest rather than shoring up the defences of the Empire, as you're aware. Had they not started on the Crusades perhaps the Great Schism would have been healed over time, as earlier ones were, but the Fourth Crusade really was the final nail in the coffin, so to speak.

James