Crusades — Podcast List — THE UNCENSORED UNPROFESSOR

Apr 22

Apr 22 413 Crusades (6) First Crusade (and Reading the Koran)

They started heading southeast in 1096. Three full years later, June of 1099, the Crusaders arrived at the walls of Jerusalem, multiple armies led by multiple personages. And, other than wanting to rescue the Holy Land from Muslims, they weren't even on the same page. So then, what happened when they finally sieged the walls of Jerusalem? On a related theme, what percentage of Crusaders actually were present out of the many armies that left Germania, France, and Italy? And because I find their ardor, zeal, passion, and commitment utterly fascinating, I muse about what must it have been like to share such purpose. In this sixth episode on the Crusades I also explain why there is such a divergence between Muslims who view violent warfare as a holy calling and Muslims who view jihad as a spiritual-existential effort. In the show's brief opening I reflect on the meaning of Easter and talk about a recent survey on pastors and the depths of their Christian worldviews. Come think and laugh with me!

Apr 16

Apr 16 412 Crusades (5) Three Key Pre-Crusades Battles

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Crusades

European folk, besieged in the East and invaded in the South, believed their civilization was at stake. They heard all about the Muslim invasions in the Balkans and the Muslim destruction of Christian Egypt. So the truth is there were many battles prior to the Crusades and in this episode I unpack three of those: one in Syria, one in Constantinople, and one in Southern Spain. What particular things ocurred in those battles to swing the outcome? What did the Muslims want? What did they especially want from out of Constantinople? What particular things (weather even) greatly impacted these battles? How did each respective side theologically interpret the outcome of the battles? In the show's opening I reflect on how the Gospel works inside both persons and cultures. Against shallow (popular) piety I argue the Gospel does not come to destroy the person, or the culture. And in fact? The Gospel does not come to make each respective person or culture more American. Come laugh and think with me.

Apr 9

Apr 9 411 Crusades (4) Muslim Religious Motives

Uncensored Unprofessor

Crusades

Welcome to the most-difficult-to-produce episode I've ever put out! Why? Because I am talking about Islam following the way Mohammed and the Koran talk(ed) about Islam. The West suffers from a kind of historical amnesia about both the Crusades and Islam; almost like there is a willful ignorance at work. But what did Mohammed himself offer to Muslims who go to war? With what kind of pious language did he describe jihad to the glory of Allah? To help frame the disconnect today I also explain the current perspective on religion versus how religion was always practiced, everywhere. And, to my surprise (I felt so naive) I note the reigning Protestant meme-perspective on the Crusades. To open the show I offer reflections both on today's Evangelical piety and the process of becoming who we are, as persons. We emphasize the "I'm at a crossroads!" decisions, but it is the little, daily, mundane decisions that truly shape who we are.

Apr 2

Apr 2 410 Crusades (3) Crusader Religious Motivations

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Crusades

In my first two episodes I laid out geographically-oriented motivations for Crusading. This week we explore the religious motives of Crusaders. What were they offered by the papacy in return for joining a crusade? Was every Crusader on a journey of religious gain? Were Crusaders motivated either by their own poverty or a desire to evangelize pagans? Who was more likely to join a crusade, younger or elder brothers? Why? To develop our understanding of Medieval Catholic piety I explain and explore the Catholic practice of granting indulgences. I also warn us of running history through a sieve of chronological snobbery. Moreover, I address, yet again, the Postmodern interpretation of the Crusades and explain why that take is really just a cudgel to shame and silence Christians. In the show's opening theological reflection I ask, "what is faith?" To answer that I unpack the perspective of famed (by tormented) Russian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, who famously once wrote, "beauty will save the world." I find both his insights about human nature and the nature of faith to be both helpful and true.

Mar 26

Mar 26 409 Crusades (2) Pilgrim's Regress

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Crusades

What stirred up the Crusades? Last week we saw that it was the spread of Islam, and Muslim invasions of Christian lands. In this second episode I explain how Muslim violations of holy Christian sites and locales (and monks and women) was further grist, greater motivation, for Holy Roman Empire Catholics to ride far East and Crusade. But first? What is the dominant and curated narrative, today, about the Crusades? What did I witness at an Idaho (of all places) Christian university that tipped me off to the existence of a power-grabbing and curated narrative? I also explain what kinds of artifacts the Medieval Christians found sacred and worth preservation. What had the Muslims done to Christians for three centuries prior to the start of the Crusades? Also, along the way I comment on the Progressive turn against Elon Musk and then reflect on what Jesus said about how many people will be saved. Come laugh and think with me about a much neglected story in Christian history.

Mar 19

Mar 19 408 Crusades (1) Their First Motivation

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Crusades

There are several curated narratives pertaining to the Crusades. Those narratives dominate not only our understanding of the Medieval Crusades but understandings of the Middle East today. But, what really happened? What initially, and really, motivated Holy Roman Empire Catholics to travel over 1200 miles eastward at the price of great sacrifice? To try to answer those questions we examine some of the history of Muslim expansion. I'll note how long before the Crusades it was that Muslims variously attacked and sacked Rome, Iberia (today's Spain & Portugal), and Jerusalem. Because we believe Jesus is Lord over culture and politics I also discuss President Trump's attempts to disassemble the GBM (Grinding Bureaucratic Machine). Along the way I tell some jokes, offer a tiny bit of health advice, and reflect on the horrors at work inside of contemporary Syria. Come laugh and think with me.