Quote:

PenWing said:
Pariah, the crusades happened because a few Popes needed to call for war so they could better control the kings of Europe. They had nothing to do with self defense and everything to do with murdering non Christians throught Erurope and in Israel itself.



PenWing, this is such bullshit. The Muslims were eating up territory like empirical whores and, in retaliation, the Christians reacted by taking that territory back. Were the Europeans pushing for war? Maybe. But they weren't the ones who started the shit.

Where exactly do you get your info from?

Quote:

magicjay said:
The NT may have a doctrine of peace but it hasn't been practiced that way since Constantine's conversion and merging of thhe Church with the Roman Empire.



I agree with this to an extent. I, however, prolly find that more has come from Christianity in this past century, in terms of spreading peace, than you do. i.e. Things aren't as good as they were, but they're not necessarily bad.