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When we hear terms like“holy war," "Jihad," or“crusade,”our minds often leap to modern conflicts involving Muslim fundamentalists. Yet these words were first forged in the crucible of medieval Christendom. The First Crusade (1096–1099) gave us a vocabulary of violence sanctified by faith—language that continues to echo across centuries, often detached from its original context.
The Origins of "Holy War"
The Crusades were launched under papal authority as wars of liberation and conquest, framed as divine missions.
“Crusade”comes fromcrux, the Latin word for cross, symbolizing the soldiers’ vow to fight under Christ’s banner.
“Holy War”was not a Muslim invention but a Christian one, used to justify campaigns against Muslims, Jews, and even fellow Christians.
The idea ofsacralized violence—that killing could be sanctified if done for God—was revolutionary and deeply troubling.
The Parallel of "Jihad"
In Islam,jihadoriginally meant “struggle” or “striving,” often spiritual rather than military. But during the Crusades, Muslim leaders adopted the term to describe resistance against invading Christian armies. Over time, jihad became associated with armed struggle, mirroring the Christian concept of holy war.
Thus, the Crusades did not just shape Europe—they reshaped Islamic thought, creating a linguistic and ideological symmetry between two faiths locked in conflict.
The Lingering Legacy
Today, these terms are weaponized in political and religious discourse:
“Crusade”is invoked by Western leaders to describe campaigns against terrorism or drugs, often unintentionally, perhaps, evoking medieval violence.
“Jihad”is used by extremists to justify acts of terror, though its broader meaning in Islam remains spiritual.
“Holy War”has become shorthand for any conflict framed in religious terms, regardless of tradition.
The irony is stark: language born in medieval Europe to sanctify Christian violence is now most often associated with Muslim fundamentalism.
Why This Matters for Us
For professionals, educators, and leaders, understanding this history is more than academic. It reminds us:
Words carry centuries of baggage.
Religious language can be co-opted to justify violence, even when it distorts the original teachings.
The rhetoric of “holy war” continues to polarize communities, shaping perceptions of faith and conflict.
Where dialogue often centers on leadership and global awareness, reflecting on this history can sharpen our sensitivity to how language frames power, identity, and struggle.
Closing Thought
The Crusades remind us that faith can inspire compassion—or be twisted into conquest. The words we use—crusade, jihad, holy war—are not neutral. They are echoes of battles fought long ago, still reverberating in our headlines today. To lead responsibly in the modern world, we must recognize the weight of this vocabulary and resist its misuse.
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I so appreciate Michael Smith's willingness to share his posts on a world-wide distribution as seen via Book Readers Heaven... While I agree with his latest Essay, I do want to share my own response as well...
The Historian Speaks Intellectually...
I Speak Organically
War - What is it Good For?!
Once I might have written a similar report as Smith has. But I have read almost steadily for about 20 years now... And I've read some terrible things... Like, for instance, when the crusades were happening, people in Spain were murdered because they didn't want to follow Christianity...
As pointed out by one of the videos at the top, it soon became clear that these soldiers were not being sent out "for God's sake" but for retaining power and property--or gaining more...
The very same that is happening here in the Year 2025, by various men who have captured the highest seat in their countries and immediately wanted more! Most people are like me, we try to live our lives as best we can...until these men of "war" choose to attempt to rise again... Just like they probably followed Barabbas to the local pub and there planned what their next crime would be. Let's face it, most men do not one day awake and decide to join an army fighting other people. They are either taught or forced to participate. We have seen what happened thereafter. They either get killed in action, or come back home so disoriented that they cannot easily move back into normal life--but by that time, leaders have normally forgotten them and they rejoin the rest of us who are just trying to figure out how to do the best we can...
Then there are those, like Barabbas, who went back to his earlier life and decided to continue on as he had been. After all, He didn't even know the man, Jesus... "It was the luck of the draw... and He was the people's choice..." Not even realizing what was happening, he soon forgot about the man, Jesus, who had died that day instead of him...
And there are many, many--just like those who were already prepared, and still are--who like to fight, like to kill and plan to kill, purely for the fun of it. They began to collect guns, carried them even into the churches where Jesus was being worshipped...claiming they were securing the building... And, still others, merely walked into a church, synagogue, or other meeting places used for worship of God, and started killing as many as he could... BTW, as far as I am aware, there has never been a female who acted as these men have... women are, instead, the mothers of all those who have been killed by wars, by serial killers, and by countries where leaders are more interested in power and greed, than...people...
Well, you knew I would be getting more specific. My war, however, has been with words. Have you noticed that many writers create fiction novels so that they can over and over have the good guy (law) when over the bad guys (criminals).
Now, fiction writers are no longer the only writers fighting. More and more books or videos, or songs are out these days, working to show through their words, too, that these few individuals who desire power and greed more than anything else, can not be tolerated! Especially since they began to use religion as part of their plan of destruction...
Let's look at leaders such as Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu, in particular... and, perhaps, Iran though they have fought through terrorists rather than weapons of war... Jews--the people who rejected the Son of God--have a man who willingly continues to kill people...knowing that if the war ends, he might be back into legal courts soon... Trump...the cult who chose to break up the Christian faith and create a christian nationalist group who want to fight for...their god... Putin? If he has a faith, it has never meant anything to him...his goals of domination have always been clear, haven't they?
The think that still boggles my mind is that a major religious group were the ones who elected and still, apparently, support his actions even now as people are being killed on our streets by federal staff!
But can it be solved? The Pope is taking a position against Trump's war actions in South America... Each of us must choose our own actions to take a stand... Do you speak of God's Truth and Love?
There are many pastors and individual Christian leaders speaking out... But, let's face it, there are still questions when the son of a major past religious Christian leader is now being questioned in the news... Myself, I depend upon the Words of Jesus, His Son...
Folks, of all that Trump/MAGA has done, the destruction of our religious lives has been the top priority for me. I was waiting for someone with proper credentials--Professor Michael A. Smith--to make a firm statement of our history and the abuse of God's Laws on Truth and Love. He has done so today and I thank him personally for setting the stage I needed to give my "second opinion" on the reality of the situation...
I believe in God, the Great I AM
Religion is a tool created by men who wanted to lead, for whatever reason. Some have been open, like the present and last Pope, but others have not. We all know that.
I supported Reverend Billy Graham; I do not support his son or any other evangelist that I know of these days.
Before sitting down, I took a deep breath and shook out my hands as I paced Renaldo’s small work area. “Why are you so nervous?” I asked myself, then closed my eyes before answering, “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because your father appears to be selling weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.” A bitter laugh erupted at the absurdity of the situation.
It wasn’t that I didn’t love my father. I truly did. But Dad was a control freak. I’d studied enough psychology in college to understand he had many of the classic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder*, often considered the archetypal CEO signature, and, sadly, what makes them, and my father, so successful. Yet he was charming, enough to manipulate just about anyone into doing just about anything. If they didn’t comply, he’d humiliate them, without shame or remorse. He’d exploit every frailty to get what he wanted, and was proud of it, because he was successful and powerful and no one ever challenged him. He’d be called a sociopath if it weren’t for his ability to love. He genuinely cared for my mom and me. Yet I’d always believed there was someone in his past, someone special, unlike anyone before or since, someone he loved but lost. I asked him once after catching him with that wistful look on his face, and, for a moment, he looked like he might shed a tear, but he recovered and denied it. I even asked my mother, and her reaction was similar. Made me wonder if this woman who didn’t exist had anything to do with how my father had ultimately turned out. But while I loved him, I wasn’t willing to endure what my mom had, his need to dominate, control, and demand total loyalty. That became obvious with every crush I’d had since I was fifteen. But the captain was different. My father had chosen him for me. And he was someone my dad would envy for a number of reasons, his military service most notably. Dad admired the brave souls who served our country, so I understood his interest in the captain. Thinking back on the info I remembered concerning my new bodyguard, I became curious, as well. And who could resist talking about themselves when someone else was so interested, right? That could be my way in. But I had to be contrite first if he was ever to believe my regard was genuine. To that end, I went in search of the dashing Captain Esprit. No time like the present since I had no idea how susceptible he’d be or how long it might take to compromise him. Knowing how seriously he took his job, I chose his one day off to get the ball rolling. Since I knew nothing about his personal life, I started chatting with his detail backup, Cyril, a cheerful-looking fellow, and one of the few men Captain Esprit seemed to trust and like. “Cyril?” I said as he scouted the food court at the U-Dub’s Husky Den. “Yes, Miss Lasette?” he replied with a glance over his shoulder. “Would you mind sitting down with me? I’ll buy dinner, and we can eat while I ask your advice about something.” He nodded to his team member nearby, then said, “I’d be happy to. Let me secure a table. Go ahead and grab me a spinach salad. My wife says I need to eat better.” He patted his stomach, which was pretty damn lean for such a large man. I grabbed our food, paid, and joined Cyril in the far corner near an emergency exit. He helped unload the tray, but instead of digging in, he sat back in his chair and cracked a jovial smile, the white of his teeth in stark contrast to the smooth darkness of his skin. Though an intimidating giant, Cyril was gentle, kind, and soft-spoken, and I both liked and trusted him. “What’s on your mind, Miss Lasette?” he asked, his southern drawl smooth as honey. “Cyril, it’s been over a month. I hope you feel comfortable enough to use my given name.” He grinned. “Sure thing, Miss Reina. Now, what can I help you with?” I started in on my salad and motioned for him to do the same. It was easier to keep my attention on the food rather than meeting Cyril’s eyes. “It’s Captain Esprit.” “Ah, a very good man,” he said after swallowing a bite. “It’s no secret we haven’t gotten off on the best foot. Not that I blame him. As team leader, he’s been caught in the middle of my feud with my father.” I glanced at Cyril to gauge his reaction, but I saw no judgment. “I admit, I’ve been acting poorly, hoping the captain would reconsider and move on. It’s common knowledge I don’t want a security detail following my every move.” “But necessary, Miss Reina. There’re all kinds of crazies out there, jus’ waitin’ to stir up trouble, hear their names on the news, ‘specially when it comes to pol’tics. Your daddy’s a target now, which puts you at risk. Collateral damage. It’s the skipper’s job to see that doesn’t happen, and he takes it very seriously.” “I understand. And I want to trust him as much as you, my father, and the rest of my team. It’s just that…he’s more or less in charge of my life right now, and yet, I know so little about him. With all the tension between us, I doubt he’d open up if I asked. I just want to feel at ease about him, to know what kind of man he is. “The day I met Captain Esprit, my father told me a little about him, but I refused to listen, hoping I’d get my way and he’d back off. Now, I’m stuck in this position for at least the next year, feeling vulnerable to the one person sworn to protect me, all because I don’t know enough about him. Can you see how unnerving that is, to know nothing of the man who holds my life in his hands?” Cyril pushed the remains of his lunch aside and swiped a napkin across his lips, then rested his elbows on the table with his hands knotted together. “Sure, I guess I can understand that. So, what d’you wanna know?” “Anything. Everything. Whatever you feel comfortable sharing. I’m not asking for any deep, dark secrets. I just want to know the man better.” He relaxed back in his seat, and over the next hour, I learned about Captain Kynan Esprit’s past, his time in the Marines and the incidents behind many of his commendations. Then there were his years in the Secret Service and the scandal he was scapegoated for, all professional aspects easily confirmed with a little research, but nothing personal I could use. The captain and Cyril had met in the Corps, served together in Iraq, and grew close during Kynan’s last days there, then even more so after his discharge. While Cyril explained he couldn’t share any details—Top Secret, he said—he’d helped pull the captain out of a horrendous situation during his last mission. They considered their friendship sacred, to such a point he felt he couldn’t share much without permission. Frustrating, but I respected him for that. “Any advice on how to approach him?” I asked. “I don’t want to continue with this strained relationship. It’s too much work to constantly fight.” Cyril rested his warm fingers along my forearm. “Apologize, Miss Reina. And treat him with the dignity and respect he deserves. That’s all anyone wants really. The captain’s a good man. Honest. Hard-workin’. Give him a chance to prove it to you.” He ended with the kind smile I was so used to. “Thanks, Cyril, I will,” I said and paused. “In fact…I’d like to get started right away. Do you know where he is?” “On a Thursday night? Probably down at Kells.” “That Irish pub in Post Alley?” “The very one.” I wiggled my brow. “You know, I haven’t been down to Pike Place in months. Care for a little sightseeing?” “Oh, Miss Reina, that whole area down there’s a zoo of tourists.” “Better bring Felix then. Come on, let’s go.”
“It was kind of…musical, don’t you think?” I said. He snorted then turned onto his side and ran his finger across my cheek. “A virtual symphony.” He leaned in and kissed me like we’d been reunited after a long separation then laid his head back down and stared into my eyes. “I could make music with you forever, Reina.” I sucked in a short breath. “What does that mean?” “I think you know.” “Maybe, but you should tell me anyway…just to be perfectly clear, so we’re on the same page of sheet music…so to speak.” The corners of his eyes crinkled, and he continued to gaze at me. “I might not have an extensive history in the romance department, but I think what I’m feeling is…love.”
First, be prepared to get to know our main character in the worst ways possible, as he goes through trauma that many soldiers receive during "service" to our country... Because this book proves that when you are trying to act in an honorable way to fulfill your duties, you may find that strictly following orders will place unbelievable stress on a man...who...cares...
Take, for instance, a Captain who is just finishing out and clearing his unit when he hears a young girl screaming and then sees her being dragged into a hut. Most good guys would immediately act to help. Yet it would be against orders... Worse, when he notifies his best friend who is also leading the evacuation, he talks him into helping... It was the time when terrorists were known for killing the enemy by beheading... Yes, that was done while the Captain was also being beaten...
The second job was in Secret Service back home, but as he learned about what he would be doing, he was also being told that what he had done on his last mission--disobeying orders and the results--he learned that he would be watched carefully when handling anything in the future... So that when, a 7-year-old daughter of the vice-resident had specifically asked for him to be part of her guard instead of another man she really didn't like, for several reasons, it was approved, with conditions... But, what do you do with a young girl who obviously has turned to you in complete trust to keep her safe... and then have her kidnapped when there were rumors about inappropriate connection...and her mother had refused to have him around her? Again, the Captain disobeyed orders and ran to the location where the little girl was last seen, considered the methods he had trained her to ensure she could be safe when he wasn't there... and immediately went to where he thought she might be... Only to have her come out to face a gunman aiming at her... Another death, but it wasn't his charge... He killed the man who had been aiming his gun...
Some might say that it was because of his excellent work in saving the little girl that he was once again reassigned. The Captain wasn't too sure about that. This time a presidential candidate wanted him on duty as his daughter's personal guard. Only thing was, she was 28, absolutely did not want a guard following her, and the Captain decided she was a rich snob and that he was once against stucked with a penalty...
This time the Captain was prepared and he set the rules, one of which would be that he would choose his guard team, but knew that he would be walking a tight rope as it was well known that there would be many who would look to the family of a presidential candidate as a potential source of leverage... Which did happen... Her father then decided to send them to a location far away and well guarded to live until after the election... Needless to say that the daughter was quite upset, had bad memories of that location, and was angry she had no control over her own life... But she had begun to trust the Captain... Because, of course, when two people are located where few people would be, that could lead to...
But while the personal lives of Captain Esprit and Miss Lassette were forced into being through the political campaign of her father, readers will watch as, in the background, questionable political decisions begin to be taken surrounding the Captain... Were these actions to control his life so that he'd be forced to do whatever he was assigned to do? Or, as often occurs, were those actually involved in criminal activities, the type that felt that nobody was smart enough to realize what was actually happening?
The Captain was already thinking of conspiracies. But it wasn't until the relocation to Spain occurred, and there was so much free time, that exploration of all of the buildings, including what was called a shed, but which was actually filled with both valuables as well as records, that the two, who had now become friends, leading to more, got busy going through those records and discovering that, perhaps, the candidate for the presidency was involved in major criminal deals that could lead to future danger for the world...
Folks, I even had to check to see when this book was published (2024). For me, and perhaps actually intended to do so by the author, the fact that this turned out to be a political thriller was, in my mind, too familiar and followed closely the reality we've been horrified by for the past decade. Was in coincidentally that actions, such as blackmail, lies, subordinates being forced to act based on authority of their boss(es)? The only salvation was that a hero and a concerned daughter came together to learn more about what was actually happening; and, consequently to fall in love...
As the book moves forwarded all of the bad actors are revealed who were either bad guys or who have been forced by blackmail to do things they didn't plan to do, for the sake of...greed by the true leader. Action becomes fast and dangerous as individuals are after both the Captain and the presidntial candidate's daughter... One bright spot was that the Captail was able to call upon his fellow marines who had rescued him during that last mission, and readers can watch as loyalty, earned and not demanded, is the basis of true leadership...
I got so caught up matching fiction with reality that I immediately downloaded the next book... So watch for my thought on what happens then! This "could" be a must-read for those who need to really understand just how corruption can indeed occur within our government...
