Excerpt from Military Brotherhoods the Englis Essay IT is impossible, in considering those Military Brotherhoods which for centuries seemed to men the realization of the highest ideal of Christianity, not to reflect that they would have worn a strangely different aspect to the first disciples of the Christian faith. The fathers of the early Church indeed would probably have shrunk with horror from an association of ideas which would have seemed to them blasphemous and even a contradiction in terms. For the ...
Read More
Excerpt from Military Brotherhoods the Englis Essay IT is impossible, in considering those Military Brotherhoods which for centuries seemed to men the realization of the highest ideal of Christianity, not to reflect that they would have worn a strangely different aspect to the first disciples of the Christian faith. The fathers of the early Church indeed would probably have shrunk with horror from an association of ideas which would have seemed to them blasphemous and even a contradiction in terms. For the announcement of Peace on Earth and the universal Brotherhood of Men in Christ, which were the striking features of their creed, might well have seemed to them to be totally opposed to the idea of war, - and especially to the idea of a war of religion, such as that in which Military Brotherhoods had their origin. Yet the foresight of the Founder of their faith had been clearer than theirs. Universal fraternity was an ultimate ideal, to be realized only after universal strife 5 and the same lips which had seemed to prophesy the coming abolition of war in the declaration, All ye are brethren, had delivered the mournful warning that Christ had come not to send peace on earth but a sword. At the outset of this essay, therefore, a question has to be answered. By the twelfth century, when the first Military Brother hood was founded, the highest type of Christian excellence out side the order of priesthood was no longer the meek martyr of the early Church nor the solitary hermit of a later age, but the warlike knight of the Crusades. What then were the influences which had so completely changed the ideals of Christianity? The answer is a complex one. They were partly political forces without and partly social forces within the Church, - forces, that is, some of which were Semitic and Mohammedan while others were Teutonic and Pagan. Mohammedanism differs from the other two great religions of the globe in this, that while Buddhism no less than Christianity is a gospel of peace, the creed of Islam is essentially a warlike creed. The words of Ali, Mohammed's first disciple, express the attitude of its votaries to all but the faithful Whoever rises against thee, I will dash out his teeth, tear out his eyes, break his legs, rip up his belly. Force has been the means of its propagation, and its disciples have offered to conquered foes the alternative of the Koran or the sword. The success of this religion was at first so rapid and startling as to inspire Christians with profound feelings both of fear and admiration. It faced Europe on the northern shores of Africa. It flanked her by its conquest of Spain in the west. It harassed her coasts by its supremacy on the Mediterranean. In the eighth century it had even pushed far into Gaul, till Christendom, brought to bay, took up arms in almost despairing imitation of its great foe, and checked the victorious advance of the Crescent once and for all on the broad plain south of the Loire. The God of Battles had declared himself on the side of the Cross: henceforth it might seem that to fight against the infidel was to fight the battles of the Lord. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at ... This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
