I ran out of things to read so I picked up one of Edward’s books. Whatever I think of his general dysfunction, I have to admit he’s quite the scholar. This book’s title is “Crusaders – The History of the Wars for the Holy Lands” by David Jones (a rather artless name for such an involved subject.) It starts in the 12th century with Baldwin of Forde (yes, that’s a person), the archbishop of Canterbury, going on a quest to recruit volunteers to fight Saladin, who was taking over the Mediterranean and getting rid of Christians right and left, That’s enough detail. You get the picture. Christians and, for that matter, Muslims and all other religions, have for centuries been fighting to gain dominance because that’s what their God wants and they know because he talks to them. Murder, mayhem, chaos and confusion in the name of God, is a tragedy and a travesty. If there is a God, from what I’ve seen, he is always out to lunch. But honoring their God is not why the faithful engage in these conflicts. It’s all about power over others and that is as true today as it was then.