Shadows of Faith: Uncovering the Dark Legacy of Christendom
Christendom's history is marked by a complex and often brutal narrative of conquest, persecution, and violence. From the medieval Crusades to modern atrocities, the legacy of Christianity is inextricably linked to bloodshed and suffering.
In this article, we discuss one of the major reasons why many from non-christian lands refuse to accept the Bible as the word of God. Historically, Christendom has claimed to believe in the Bible and to be it's guardian.
But the religious organisations of Christendom have been associated with some of the most appalling horrors of history, from the Crusades,and programs of the Middle Ages to the Holocaust of our own time.The truth is Christendom has proved to be a false friend of the Bible.
Christendom: An organisation filled with innocent blood from end to end
From it's very beginning Christendom has been befouled with bloodshed.After the Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, had accepted the Christianity of his day, making it the religion of state,yes after he presided over the religious Council of Nicaea,he had his oldest son put to death and thereafter his own wife,Fausta.In this way the very foundations of Christendom were befouled with blood.The Encyclopedia Britannica,11th Edition, Volume 6 ,page 989, paragraph 4.
Through the centuries that followed, Christendom's skirts have dripped with blood.If that blood could cry out, it would testify against the ten religious crusades that she carried on vainly against the "infidel" Muhammadans of the Middle East, the crimes of the religious inquisition,the religious wars between Roman Catholics and Protestants, her Hundred Years war her thirty Years War, and now, finally,her two world wars of the past recent century by means of which more blood was shed than has been shed since the founding of ancient Babylon by Nimrod, "a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah", four thousand two hundred plus years ago.
Has not the "error" of Christendom come to be far greater than that of ancient Jerusalem and Judah? From all the facts the answer is plainly yes!
Crusades and Conquests
The medieval Crusades against Muslims in the Middle East set a tone for centuries of conflict. The 1099 sack of Jerusalem, with its massacre of Jews and Muslims, exemplified the Crusaders' zealotry. This violence fueled anti-Islamic sentiment, shaping Western perceptions for centuries.
While the church was banning Bible translation, the pope was sponsoring massive military efforts against the Muslims in the Middle East.These came to be called "holy" Crusades,but there was nothing holy about them.The first termed that "People's Crusade" set the tone for what was to come.Before leaving Europe ,an unruly army, inflamed by preachers, turned on the Jews in Germany, slaughtering them in one town after another.
Why? Historian Hans Eberhard Mayer says:"The argument that the Jews,as the enemies of Christ, deserved to be punished was merely a feeble attempt to conceal the real motive:greed".
Inquisition and Persecution
The Spanish Inquisition, launched in 1478, institutionalized persecution. Jews, Muslims, and later Protestants faced torture, forced conversions, and death. Witch hunts across Europe claimed thousands of lives, mostly women, in a frenzy of fear and misogyny.
Consistently,God does not approve of living souls being tortured in this life. The Catholic Church used the notorious Inquisition to stamp out so called "heretics" by fiendish torture and burnings at the stake.In the sixteenth century alone, the Catholic Inquisition burned more than 30,000 "heretics" in this way. Nor were the Protestant reformers of that time without guilty, a notable case being the burning near Geneva of Michael Servetus, because of his publicly declaring the truths that the Trinity doctrine and the baptism of infants are contrary to Bible teaching.
John Calvin, one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church, argued for the death penalty, and looked on while Servetus was literally roasted alive in a slow fire for about five hours till dead.
Sectarian Violence
Catholic-Protestant conflicts ravaged Europe. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) decimated Germany, while the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) saw England and France clash. These wars were often framed as holy struggles, deepening divisions.
The Protestant rebellion in the 16th century dislodged Roman Catholicism from power in many European lands.One result was the Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648) "one of the most terrible wars in European history", according to The Universal History of the World.The basic cause of the war? "The hatred of Catholic for Protestant, of Protestant for Catholic".
Colonialism and Genocide
Spain's conquest of the Americas brought unprecedented destruction. Indigenous civilizations like the Aztecs and Incas were ravaged, millions killed, and cultures erased. The transatlantic slave trade, justified by some Christians, forcibly enslaved Africans, perpetuating racism.
Christendom had begun to expand beyond Europe, carrying "Christians" civilization into other parts of earth.This military expansion was marked by cruelty and greed.In the Americas, the Spanish conquistadors quickly destroyed the indigenous American civilizations.Noted one history book:"In general, the Spanish governors destroyed the native civilization, without introducing the European.The thirst for gold was the principle motive that drew them to the New World".
Protestant missionaries also went out from Europe to other continents. One of the results of their work was the promotion of colonial expansion.A widespread view today of the Protestant missionary effort is:"In many instances the missionary enterprise has been used as a justification and a cover for the domination of people.The interrelation between mission, technology, and imperialism is well known".
Modern Atrocities
Christendom's role in World War I and II is complex. Nationalism and ideology intertwined with religion, as Christian leaders and laity supported conflicting sides. The Holocaust, while rooted in Nazi ideology, saw complicity and silence from some Christian quarters.
The close association between Christendom's religions and the state has continued down to our day.The last two world wars were fought primarily between "Christian nations. Clergymen on both sides encouraged their young men to fight and try to kill the enemy who often belonged to the same religion.As was noted in the book If the Churches Want Peace: "Certainly it is no credit to the churches that war system of today grew up and has worked it's greatest havoc among states devoted to the cause of Christianity ".
Conclusion
Christendom's dark legacy challenges simplistic narratives of faith and morality. Acknowledging these atrocities can foster understanding and reconciliation. As we confront these shadows, we may find paths to healing and a more compassionate future.
References:
(1) Riley-Smith, J. (2005). The Crusades: A Short History.
(2) Kamen, H. (2014). The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision.
(3) MacCauley, J. (2020). The Thirty Years' War: A Very Short Introduction.
(4) Stannard, D. E. (1992). American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World.
(5) Goldhagen, D. J. (2002). A Moral Reckoning: The Role of the Catholic Church in the Holocaust and Its Unfulfilled Duty of Repair.
Follow-up questions:
How can understanding these historical events inform contemporary discussions about faith, tolerance, and human rights?
What role can people of faith play in acknowledging and making amends for past wrongs?
Comments
Post a Comment