Nathan W. Bingham

It doesn't seem primarily to have been getting even with the Muslims for having attacked Europe, although as late as 841, St. Peter's in Rome had been sacked by Muslims. who had invaded from North Africa up through Sicily into Italy. So the Muslim presence had been real, but after all, 841 was hundreds of years earlier. It's not primarily revenge. It's this ideal of doing something for Christ.

It doesn't seem primarily to have been getting even with the Muslims for having attacked Europe, although as late as 841, St. Peter's in Rome had been sacked by Muslims. who had invaded from North Africa up through Sicily into Italy. So the Muslim presence had been real, but after all, 841 was hundreds of years earlier. It's not primarily revenge. It's this ideal of doing something for Christ.

And it is estimated that perhaps as many as 100,000 Europeans headed east from Europe in that first crusade to try to regain Jerusalem. And the amazing thing is, they succeeded. In the providence of God, the crusade, the first crusade, went forth at a moment of a great deal of internal dissent and weakness in the Muslim world. And the crusaders were able to enter Jerusalem on July 15, 1099.

And it is estimated that perhaps as many as 100,000 Europeans headed east from Europe in that first crusade to try to regain Jerusalem. And the amazing thing is, they succeeded. In the providence of God, the crusade, the first crusade, went forth at a moment of a great deal of internal dissent and weakness in the Muslim world. And the crusaders were able to enter Jerusalem on July 15, 1099.

So the goal of the crusade was in this most remarkable way realized. And it seemed then a validation of the vision, of the expectation, of the hope. And the capturing of Jerusalem was a terrible thing. The crusaders slaughtered people. The streets ran with blood. And the Muslim world has never really...

So the goal of the crusade was in this most remarkable way realized. And it seemed then a validation of the vision, of the expectation, of the hope. And the capturing of Jerusalem was a terrible thing. The crusaders slaughtered people. The streets ran with blood. And the Muslim world has never really...

recovered from that vision of Christians slaughtering Muslims, but also slaughtering Jews and others in Jerusalem, other Christians in Jerusalem. Again, this mysterious energy giving vent to this horror there in the city. Now, of course, it seems to me in the interest of historical fairness,

recovered from that vision of Christians slaughtering Muslims, but also slaughtering Jews and others in Jerusalem, other Christians in Jerusalem. Again, this mysterious energy giving vent to this horror there in the city. Now, of course, it seems to me in the interest of historical fairness,

even though no one is actually interested in historical fairness, that it ought to be observed that after all, the Muslims had captured the city from the Christians in the 600s. But they had not been as vicious and as violent as the Christians were when the Christians recaptured the city. We have to recognize that.

even though no one is actually interested in historical fairness, that it ought to be observed that after all, the Muslims had captured the city from the Christians in the 600s. But they had not been as vicious and as violent as the Christians were when the Christians recaptured the city. We have to recognize that.

But to hold the Crusades purely against the Christians as if the Muslims had never raised the sword in the proclamation of their faith is a little bit inconsistent, it seems to me. And I have been tempted to say, although I'm too smart to say it, except to you, just amongst ourselves,

But to hold the Crusades purely against the Christians as if the Muslims had never raised the sword in the proclamation of their faith is a little bit inconsistent, it seems to me. And I have been tempted to say, although I'm too smart to say it, except to you, just amongst ourselves,

That if they're really opposed to crusading, I suppose they ought to give Istanbul back to us, since they took it after the Crusades from the West were over. But reason never gets you anywhere in history. Now, the history of Jerusalem had been a very curious history.

That if they're really opposed to crusading, I suppose they ought to give Istanbul back to us, since they took it after the Crusades from the West were over. But reason never gets you anywhere in history. Now, the history of Jerusalem had been a very curious history.

In the second century, after the Jews had revolted against Rome, Rome put down the Jewish rebellion and forced all Jews out of the city of Jerusalem and renamed the city, Aelia Capitolina, after a minor Roman goddess. And Jews were not permitted for a long time to live in Jerusalem. And only with the coming of Constantine was Jerusalem reconstituted as Jerusalem,

In the second century, after the Jews had revolted against Rome, Rome put down the Jewish rebellion and forced all Jews out of the city of Jerusalem and renamed the city, Aelia Capitolina, after a minor Roman goddess. And Jews were not permitted for a long time to live in Jerusalem. And only with the coming of Constantine was Jerusalem reconstituted as Jerusalem,

so that he could build the Church of the Holy Sepulchre there, and it became then a predominantly Christian city until it fell in 638 to the Muslims. So Jerusalem had had quite a checkered history, and it had great varieties to it, and now it was in Crusader hands. And the Crusaders determined that one of the leading noblemen who had fought in the Crusade should be named King of Jerusalem.

so that he could build the Church of the Holy Sepulchre there, and it became then a predominantly Christian city until it fell in 638 to the Muslims. So Jerusalem had had quite a checkered history, and it had great varieties to it, and now it was in Crusader hands. And the Crusaders determined that one of the leading noblemen who had fought in the Crusade should be named King of Jerusalem.

And that man's name was Godfrey de Bouillon. Uncle Godfrey, we call him in the family. He was actually from Belgium, and he was so pious that he said to be named King of Jerusalem was inappropriate for anyone except Jesus, and he wanted simply the title Baron of the Holy Sepulchre.

And that man's name was Godfrey de Bouillon. Uncle Godfrey, we call him in the family. He was actually from Belgium, and he was so pious that he said to be named King of Jerusalem was inappropriate for anyone except Jesus, and he wanted simply the title Baron of the Holy Sepulchre.