Overview

In God's Battalions, distinguished scholar Rodney Stark puts forth a controversial argument that the Crusades were a justified war waged against Muslim terror and aggression. Stark, the author of The Rise of Christianity, reviews the history of the seven major crusades from 1095-1291 in this fascinating work of religious revisionist history.

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9780061582615

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Reviews

At last, a convincing, balanced book on the Crusades, far from the recent unsophisticated and ideological diatribes against them as A Bad Thing. Rodney Stark demonstrates that the Crusades were neither unprovoked nor colonialist. Here is yet another rich and readable book from this thoughtful and distinguished author. --Jeffrey Burton Russell, author of A History of Heaven and Paradise Mislaid

[Stark's] new book, God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades, gives historic and sociological evidence for a fresh assessment of the Crusades. -- United Methodist Reporter

GOD'S BATTALIONS launches a frontal assault on the comfortable myths that scholars have popularized about the crusades. The results are startling. His greatest achievement is to make us see the crusaders on their own terms. -- Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity A cogent and feisty apologist for Christian history . . . An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Award-winning author and sociologist Rodney Stark humbly goes to war against the many politically correct myths surrounding the history of the Crusades in this well-researched and easy-to-read academic masterpiece. Stark proves himself once again as a historical myth-buster. --CBN.com, A+ rating Stark's wonderfully readable prose and politically incorrect conclusions... point us to the question--Will 21st-century infiltration lead to surrender or revival?--on which Europe's future hinges. --The World Magazine [God's Battalions] avoid[s] the black-and-white nonsense of current secular thinkers, who condemn the Crusades as part of their condemnation of the Catholic Church and of much later Western imperialism. ...Stark demonstrate[s] a more sophisticated view of history, religion and culture. --Catholic San Francisco Rodney Stark turns what we 'know' about history on its head. --Relevant Magazine [Stark] makes the case [for the crusades] with admirable frankness and flair. --The Catholic Thing GOD'S BATTALIONS launches a frontal assault on the comfortable myths that scholars have popularized about the crusades. The results are startling. His greatest achievement is to make us see the crusaders on their own terms. --Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity At last, a convincing, balanced book on the Crusades, far from the recent unsophisticated and ideological diatribes against them as A Bad Thing. Rodney Stark demonstrates that the Crusades were neither unprovoked nor colonialist. Here is yet another rich and readable book from this thoughtful and distinguished author. --Jeffrey Burton Russell, author of A History of Heaven and Paradise Mislaid [Stark] wants to challenge the prevailing television pundit-level misunderstanding of the Crusades, and in this, his accessible, enjoyably argued book succeeds. --Christianity Today Stark's clear, factual narrative offers larger-than-life characters.... [his] works are an encouraging corrective to the anti-Western history routinely taught in our schools. --New Oxford Review In God's Battalions, Stark provides an account of the Crusades perfectly fitted for the Fox News audience. Clearly this is not the politically correct version of the Crusades, and that is fine: there is little that was politically correct about the Crusades in the first place. --Christian Century Stark's style is clear and direct. He sets the pace of narrative masterfully...The result is a good read...Christian readers should welcome Stark's affirmation of the best in scholarship, both old and new, and his willingness to argue a controversial position. --Christian Scholar's Review [Stark's] new book, God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades, gives historic and sociological evidence for a fresh assessment of the Crusades. --United Methodist Reporter There is much to be learned here. Filled with fascinating historical glimpses of monks and Templars, priests and pilgrims, kings and contemplatives, Stark pulls it all together and challenges us to reconsider our view of the Crusades. --Publishers Weekly In God's Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account...The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography. --Booklist (starred review) [Stark s] new book, God s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades, gives historic and sociological evidence for a fresh assessment of the Crusades. --United Methodist Reporter [Stark] wants to challenge the prevailing television pundit-level misunderstanding of the Crusades, and in this, his accessible, enjoyably argued book succeeds. --Christianity Today [Stark] makes the case [for the crusades] with admirable frankness and flair. --The Catholic Thing Stark s wonderfully readable prose and politically incorrect conclusions... point us to the question Will 21st-century infiltration lead to surrender or revival? on which Europe s future hinges. --The World Magazine [God s Battalions] rewards a careful reading, and not only because the story itself is sogripping, with tales of courage and desperation, outsized characters, and fate of cultures hanging in the balance. Masterful sets the record straight. --National Catholic Register Stark s clear, factual narrative offers larger-than-life characters . [his] works are an encouraging corrective to the anti-Western history routinely taught in our schools. --New Oxford Review GOD S BATTALIONS launches a frontal assault on the comfortable myths that scholars have popularized about the crusades. The results are startling. His greatest achievement is to make us see the crusaders on their own terms. --Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity At last, a convincing, balanced book on the Crusades, far from the recent unsophisticated and ideological diatribes against them as A Bad Thing. Rodney Stark demonstrates that the Crusades were neither unprovoked nor colonialist. Here is yet another rich and readable book from this thoughtful and distinguished author. --Jeffrey Burton Russell, author of A History of Heaven and Paradise Mislaid There is much to be learned here. Filled with fascinating historical glimpses of monks and Templars, priests and pilgrims, kings and contemplatives, Stark pulls it all together and challenges us to reconsider our view of the Crusades. --Publishers Weekly Award-winning author and sociologist Rodney Stark humbly goes to war against the many politically correct myths surrounding the history of the Crusades in this well-researched and easy-to-read academic masterpiece. Stark proves himself once again as a historical myth-buster. --CBN.com, A+ rating Rodney Stark turns what we know about history on its head. --Relevant Magazine Stark s style is clear and direct. He sets the pace of narrative masterfully...The result is a good read...Christian readers should welcome Stark s affirmation of the best in scholarship, both old and new, and his willingness to argue a controversial position. --Christian Scholar's Review [God s Battalions] avoid[s] the black-and-white nonsense of current secular thinkers, who condemn the Crusades as part of their condemnation of the Catholic Church and of much later Western imperialism. Stark demonstrate[s] a more sophisticated view of history, religion and culture. --Catholic San Francisco In God s Battalions, Stark provides an account of the Crusades perfectly fitted for the Fox News audience. Clearly this is not the politically correct version of the Crusades, and that is fine: there is little that was politically correct about the Crusades in the first place. --Christian Century In God s Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church -GOD'S BATTALIONS launches a frontal assault on the comfortable myths that scholars have popularized about the crusades. The results are startling. His greatest achievement is to make us see the crusaders on their own terms.---Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity -At last, a convincing, balanced book on the Crusades, far from the recent unsophisticated and ideological diatribes against them as -A Bad Thing.- Rodney Stark demonstrates that the Crusades were neither unprovoked nor colonialist. Here is yet another rich and readable book from this thoughtful and distinguished author.---Jeffrey Burton Russell, author of A History of Heaven and Paradise Mislaid -There is much to be learned here. Filled with fascinating historical glimpses of monks and Templars, priests and pilgrims, kings and contemplatives, Stark pulls it all together and challenges us to reconsider our view of the Crusades.---Publishers Weekly -[Stark's] new book, God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades, gives historic and sociological evidence for a fresh assessment of the Crusades.---United Methodist Reporter -[Stark] wants to challenge the prevailing television pundit-level misunderstanding of the Crusades, and in this, his accessible, enjoyably argued book succeeds.---Christianity Today -[Stark] makes the case [for the crusades] with admirable frankness and flair.---The Catholic Thing -Stark's wonderfully readable prose and politically incorrect conclusions... point us to the question--Will 21st-century infiltration lead to surrender or revival?--on which Europe's future hinges.---The World Magazine -[God's Battalions] avoid[s] the black-and-white nonsense of current secular thinkers, who condemn the Crusades as part of their condemnation of the Catholic Church and of much later Western imperialism. ...Stark demonstrate[s] a more sophisticated view of history, religion and culture.---Catholic San Francisco -In God's Battalions, Stark provides an account of the Crusades perfectly fitted for the Fox News audience. Clearly this is not the politically correct version of the Crusades, and that is fine: there is little that was politically correct about the Crusades in the first place.---Christian Century -An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography.---Booklist (starred review) -Award-winning author and sociologist Rodney Stark humbly goes to war against the many politically correct myths surrounding the history of the Crusades in this well-researched and easy-to-read academic masterpiece. Stark proves himself once again as a historical myth-buster.---CBN.com, A+ rating -Rodney Stark turns what we 'know' about history on its head.---Relevant Magazine -Stark's style is clear and direct. He sets the pace of narrative masterfully...The result is a good read...Christian readers should welcome Stark's affirmation of the best in scholarship, both old and new, and his willingness to argue a controversial position.---Christian Scholar's Review -[God's Battalions] rewards a careful reading, and not only because the story itself is sogripping, with tales of courage and desperation, outsized characters, and fate of cultures hanging in the balance. ...Masterful... sets the record straight.---National Catholic Register -Stark's clear, factual narrative offers larger-than-life characters.... [his] works are an encouraging corrective to the anti-Western history routinely taught in our schools.---New Oxford Review [God's Battalions] rewards a careful reading, and not only because the story itself is so gripping, with tales of courage and desperation, outsized characters, and fate of cultures hanging in the balance. ...Masterful... sets the record straight. --National Catholic Register An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography. --Booklist (starred review) -In God's Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account...The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing.---Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church In God's Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account...The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church In God s Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church

In God s Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church

[Stark] makes the case [for the crusades] with admirable frankness and flair. --The Catholic Thing

In God's Battalions Princeton sociologist of religion Rodney Stark seeks to dispel myths about the medieval Crusades and replace them with a more factual account...The historiographic arguments made by Stark regarding the antecedents and consequences of the Crusades are very convincing. --Jack Kilcrease, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church

Author Information

Rodney Stark is the Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University. His thirty books on the history and sociology of religion include The Rise of Christianity, Cities of God, For the Glory of God, Discovering God, and The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success. Stark received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

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