Christian Jihad: Two Former Muslims Look at the Crusades and Killing in the Name of Christ

Rating:
Summary: So sad!
Review: I wish we had a NEGATIVE STARS choice because this deserves -5! It's horrible, it's a Christian Fundamentalist view using two poor schmucks to push it. I had to read it when I saw my enemy Ann Coulter loved it, I knew it was going to be an unfair and unbalanced look. I was not disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: "the horror, the horror"
Review: As an active medievalist conversant with the complex factors which led to and fostered the crusader movement, I can say, categorically, that this book is awash in errors on an epic scale. While it may appeal to a certian segment of the Christian world looking for self-affirmation, it wildly distorts the actual cultural, political, religious, and economic forces at work during the Middle Ages and from which modern society emerged.

Solutions to real problems will not be found by the embrace of ignorance and the propogation of old lies.



Rating:
Summary: Obvious attempt to convert Muslims
Review: I'm a Christian, and therefore offended by any slaughter perpetrated in the name of Christ, or (for that matter)Mohammed. I've read Catholic tracts that tried argued that the Inquisition was actually a good thing (to call that argument BS is to be kind). And now, I've read this particular "Christian" book, which argues that the Crusades were a good thing. (Why is that more times than not, someone caling themselves "Christian" is actually a right wing Evangelical who thinks mainstream Protestants, Anglicans, and Catholics aren't really Christians, too?)

Well now, I suppose the Crusades were good for Western Civilization to a certain extent because they exposed Europe to the then more sophisticated culture of the Middle East. But I doubt that the thousands of inhabitants slaughtered in the streets of Jerusalem saw it that way. One (Christian, mind you -though I don't know if he was an Evangelical) contemporary eyewitness wrote that the Crusaders broke into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher "knee deep in blight," Praise the Lord.

The fact is that neither the Christians nor the Muslims will ever live up completely to the lofty ideals of their respective religions until all of them give up on the idea that God supports violent Crusaders or Jihadists. I like to think that in fact most of them HAVE. Except, apparantly, the people that wrote this book. (By the way, I'm not surprised Ann Coulter would recommend this book... I actually agree with quite a lot of her politics. But the girl can come across as just a tad TENSE. To put it mildly...)

This is yet another book that, like that misbegotten tome "Kingdom of the Cults," attempts to convert non-Christians by insulting them. Good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Critics just don't get it
Review: It is sad to see people reviewing this book who either haven't read it or else are mad because the book contradicts their own pre-conceived notions.

The writers are converts from Islam, and that gives them a certain authority. As someone who has invested a lot of time into Arab studies and particularly Islam and the Qu'ran, I can see these two know what they are talking about.

Liberals have picked up the Crusades in order to demonize Christianity, and Catholocism in particular because it makes them feel guilty. Plain and Simple.
However the facts of the crusades are these:

-Islam not Europe had the greater power, wealth and science during the middle ages, not Christian Europe.

-Islam had conquered what were until they fell Chritian cities without provocation: Jerusalem, Antioc, Mecca, Alexandria, Hippo, Carthage, and were making their way to Byzantiam (Christian Greece), threatening to conquer it to for the glory of Allah and his prophet Muhammed.

-The Crusaders made NO MONEY from the crusades. Pope Urban II received a plea from the Byzantine emperor to come to their aid, and Urban the II put out the call for European armies to help. When you break down the cost ratio, for a noblemen to bring a knight into his service, a suit of mail, let alone a suit of armor was of high price. Then you add in swords, arrows, bows, coifs, seige equipment, and the cost is astronomical. A lord committing 100 knights to the crusades was giving up ridiculous amounts of wealth! Once cities were taken, they were held, they were not raped.

-It is true that some men claiming to fight for the Crusades did bad things. Yet in WWII American troops bombed Churches, schools and private homes in the attempt to bomb German military targets. There were abuses here and there. Did that mean all of our soldiers fighting in WWII were bad? No.

-Europe was on a mission of mercy, to protect Christians throughout the middle east begging for aid against an unjust agressor.

-The name "Islam" is an arabic participle which means "submission." The Sultans and Caliphs of the middle ages (as some today) were brutal and tyrranical, and were not kind to the Christian subjects of the cities they conquered.

This book presents the realities of the Muslim side and the Christian side that is well placed in the realm of facts. I seriously suggest the reader read deeply and research, go back to the source, and you will find the authors less bigotted and more factual.



Rating:
Summary: Don't waste the time....
Review: This bit of rubbish was written by narrow-minded bigots for consumption by other narrow-minded bigots. Those capable of independant thought need not bother. If you came here from the link on Ann Coulter's website, this book was written just for you.

Rating:
Summary: Written for the ultra right wing Christians to promote hate.
Review: This book should receive negative star, but unfortunately 1 is the lowest one. Only agenda in this book is to promote Christian fundamentalism. It is just wastage of money and time. Spend it somewhere better. Let's forget about this book and share some knowledge from the Holy Qu'ran:

- Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:62)

- If your Lord had so willed, He would certainly have made mankind one single community. But that is not what He wants. So (mankind) will continue to hold divergent views. ... And that very freedom of choice and action is the whole purpose of their creation. (11:118-119)

- O mankind! We (i.e.,God) created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (49:13)

- If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. Unto God you will all return; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute. (5:48)

- And dispute not with the People of the Book (Christians and Jews)... but say, `We believe in the Revelation that came down to us and that which came down to you. Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we (all) surrender ourselves.' (29:46)

- "Behold!", The angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God." (3:45)

- Say ye: "We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and it is unto him that we surrender ourselves."(2:136)

- And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil). (4:46)

- And (remember) her (Mary) who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples. (21:91)

Finally, a poem by Ghalib (1797-1869):
________________________________
This world is nothing more than
Beauty's chance to show Herself.
And what are we?-
Nothing more than Beauty's chance to see Herself.
For if Beauty were not seeking Herself
we would not exist.
________________________________
(This poem is based on this Islamic verse where God reveals, "I was a hidden treasure, and I wished to be known, so I created all of creation.")


Rating:
Summary: Is this for real?!?!
Review: This is reminiscent of the sort of pseudo-historical trash produced during Nazi Germany about Jews. What's more odious here is that they got a couple of quislings to write it in order to add some legitimacy to their fundamentalist ranting. To quote a certain 19th Century German of Jewish extraction, "religion is the opium of the masses". Wake up people!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Historical Truth
Review: Well, historical truth would be nice for a change.

I am sick and tired of hearing anti-christian bigots site the crusades as the moral equivalent of a Muslim Jihad.

The truth is that the crusdaes were a "reaction" to militant Islam and not wars of conquest. Their stated goal was to recapture the holy lands for Christendom. Lands that were Christian for hundreds of years until they were taken by force by Islamic armies.

Did bad things happen? Duh - its a war...

But lets not say these were wars of conquest - they were actually wars of liberation that unfortunately (as we all can see in today's headlines) were unsuccessful. We are all paying the price...

On balance is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: A Landmark Book!
Review: What a rich, intelligent, and inspiring book this is! Only a former Muslim converted to Christ could teach with such wisdom and compassion. The author is a sensitive soul who writes with conviction and strength.

Rating:
Summary: one sided propaganda
Review: Who are these guys trying to kid? Every single argument presented in this book has been refuted and debunked by both Muslims and Atheists alike! Perhaps, this is the reason both Caner brothers have been hiding from the open challenges posed by the prominent Islamic apologists in America, such as "ExamineTheTruth". The bottom line, We must ignore books regarding Islam written by a Evangelical Christians until they allows their views to be open up for cross-examination and debate by knowledgable Muslims. It is important to hear from both sides. Nevertheless, this book is good for the gullibe and those who wish to undergo hardcore blind indocrtination.