Of Wars and Witches In this week's lesson we consider the question of the relationship of Christianity with war. A frequent charge against Christianity has to do with the church's involvement in the Crusades. When someone brings up the crusades, what are two alternate issues they may likely be raising regarding Christianity? What historical events lay behind Christendom's decision to engage in Crusades? Why is it important to keep in mind that the Crusades were fought in the Medieval era, and not in the twentieth or twenty-first century? What are six prevalent myths about the crusades that are popularly believed today? Were the Crusades a continuation of a Christian tradition of holy war as is often claimed? Why is the idea that the Crusades were fought to secure wealth and land for Europeans mistaken? While barbaric acts and atrocities were committed by both sides in the Crusades, how should a Christian respond to such charges against Christendom? What were the so-called “Wars of Religion” of the 16th and 17th centuries? Why is it a misnomer to refer to those conflicts as wars of religion? Why is it important to see the phenomenon of witch hunts in Christian history as episodic rather than chronic. What brought an end to the Salem Witch Trials? (58 min)
Lesson 39: Review Questions
Lesson 39: Lesson Notes
Handout: Principles of Just War Theory

Tags: Crusades, Wars of Religion, Witch Hunts, Salem Witch Trials

Christianity and Progress In this lesson we continue our consideration of historical issues related to apologetics. There is a great deal of popular misconception about the relationship of Christianity to the development of Western civilization. What is the source of these misperceptions? What was it about Christianity that made the scientific endeavor both plausible and desirable? What is wrong with the idea that Christianity plunged civilization into a period of “Dark Ages?” How did the Christian view of history influence the idea of the possibility of progress? How did the Medieval era set the stage for later advances in knowledge and science? Why is the idea of a “war” between science and Christianity a myth? (59 min)
Lesson 38: Review Questions
Lesson 38: Lesson Notes

Tags: History, Dark Ages, Science, Greece, Roman Empire, Progress, Medieval