rationalskepticism.org

TimONeill wrote:

U-96 wrote:

TimONeill wrote:

U-96 wrote:I don't really understand your point, is it about what motivated the crusaders or motivated the crusades?

There's a difference? Where?

What motivated the various rulers/knights of Europe and motivated the Catholic Church were clearly not the same.

"Clearly"? Do tell. Sorry, but the two were inextricably linked. It's not like those "rulers/knights of Europe" were all Buddhists. Guess which faith they belonged to.

I've had a bit of time to do some reading on the subject and I'm finding the "defence" idea does have support from many scholars in the area

Such as who? Name them and cite their works.

Thomas F. Madden
The New Concise History of the Crusades

Kenneth M. Setton, Harry W. Hazard
A History of the Crusades: The Impact of the Crusades on Europe

Giles Constable
Crusaders and crusading in the twelfth century

ie
"According to this view, the crusaders were the innocent victims of expansionist aggression. Many scholars today, however, reject this hostile judgment and emphasize the defensive character of the crusades as they were seen by contemporaries"
Crusaders and crusading in the twelfth century - Giles Constable