So lets say a bomb goes off in the Vatican killing the pope...

[Theben]

You think I posted that to get a rise out of folks?

This would explain 99% of your posts better than anything else I can think of.

[Krill]

NO.

"You think I posted that because I'm stupid" would explain 99% of his posts better than anything else.
the other 0.9% recuring is from him trolling.

[Ben Kenobi]

I love how open minded people are to contrary opinions. Of course, I can't believe in that because it would be so ridiculous.

[Riesstiu IV]

You don't need to be open-minded to realize how much of a massive black hole of human stupidity you are.

[Ben Kenobi]

Stupidity is like gravity, it binds the universe together?

[a.kitman]

[Provost Harrison]

We'd probably crusade again.

The first one was triggered by the destruction of the Church of the Nativity.

It would be interesting to see a revival of the religious orders such as the Templars and whatnot. There's really no reason why they couldn't also work in the modern sense, by recruiting those who have already had military training.

If the rank and file were sufficiently motivated, and were willing to fund it through tithes, then yes, you could see folks from all over the world.

One of the main reasons why Popes of the last while have held back is out of concern for Christians in Arab-held lands. The Christians who were there before the Arabs, particularly in Syria and Egypt have suffered tremendous persecution. It would take an event like the successful assassination by the Pope in the Vatican, with damage to St. Paul's to get the next Pope to put caution aside.

Religion is nearly dead. No one gives a **** anymore...

[Tuberski]

Tom Hanks would stop the bomb from ever going off.

ACK!

[Elok]

Note that, at the time of the original Crusades, western Europe was little more than a collection of warlords and their thugs lording it over the peasantry, while the Arab world was pretty much the apex of civilization. Today, the circumstances are nearly reversed, and you see their lunatics flying planes into our buildings. Holy Wars are how barbarian peoples deal with their troubles. Hopefully the Arabs will learn, like we did, to civilize themselves once they're done with the hacking and the burning.

[Ben Kenobi]

Religion is nearly dead. No one gives a **** anymore...

Then why wasn't Geert Wilders permitted to speak in Britain? Absolutely pathetic.

If I were the prime minister here, I'd give Geert Wilders honorary Canadian citizenship, and he'd have the right to vote and everything.

[Ben Kenobi]

Note that, at the time of the original Crusades, western Europe was little more than a collection of warlords and their thugs lording it over the peasantry, while the Arab world was pretty much the apex of civilization

Google Carolingian Renaissance.

That's what our history books would have us believe, but it's wrong.

[Tuberski]

Our history books want us to believe we were the barbarians?!?!?!



ACK!

[a.kitman]

its a giant conspiracy to keep the white man down

[Dr Strangelove]

Aren't we already engaged in a full scale "crusade" to eradicate al-Qaeda? We've got a multi-national force at work in Afghanistan and the Pakistanis fully engaged in Pakistan. What could "non-european Catholics" or new Teutonic Knights possibly contribute? Do you really think that NATO forces would allow a bunch of mercenaries to work with them in Afghanistan? Who's going to fund these new Teutonic Knights? APCs, tanks and helicopters are expensive. My guess is that at max you'd get an outpouring of sympathy, a pledge of renewed efforts from the leaders of NATO and perhaps some cautiously worded statements from the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

[Ben Kenobi]

Our history books want us to believe we were the barbarians?!?!?!

Yep, pretty much. That's the way pretty much all history is like nowadays.