April 10, 2006

Comments by Darryl Eberhart, Editor of “Tackling the Tough Topics”

Concerning religious fanaticism, cruelty, and barbarism; and,

Concerning the outstanding movie “Kingdom of Heaven”

            My main reasons for writing this article are:

• (1) To point out that institutional religious fanaticism, cruelty, and barbarism are very wicked; and,
• (2) To promote one of my two very favorite movies, “Kingdom of Heaven” by Ridley Scott. ((My other “very favorite movie” is “King Arthur – Director’s Cut” by Jerry Bruckheimer.  Some of the outstanding dialogue in both of these movies exposes the very ugly, dark side of “institutional religious fanaticism, insanity, cruelty, and barbarism”.))

DEFINITION:

“Crusade” (per Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, 1974): “1. Any of the military expeditions which Christians undertook from the end of the 11^th [century] to the end of the 13^th century to recover the Holy Land from the Moslems.  2. Any church-sanctioned war or expedition like this…”

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOVIE “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

            First, here is some information concerning the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”: 

            The back cover of the DVD copy of this movie that I purchased states: “From Ridley Scott, director of ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Black Hawk Down’ comes a thrilling, action-packed epic of honor, passion and courage that ‘explodes with adventure’ (Chicago Tribune).  Orlando Bloom heads an all-star cast in this sweeping tale about a young knight during the Crusades who must battle overwhelming forces to save his people, and fulfill his true destiny.”

            The back cover also has the statement: “Twentieth Century Fox presents A Scott Free Production, A Ridley Scott Film, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.”

            The DVD version of this movie is a two-disk set.  Disk #2 contains Special Features such as: “Movie Real: Kingdom of Heaven” as seen on the A&E Network and “History Vs. Hollywood: Kingdom of Heaven” as seen on The History Channel.

            “Kingdom of Heaven” is a 144-minute (2 hour and 24 minute) color film that was released in 2005.  The “Rating” for this movie listed on the back cover of the DVD is “R [i.e., Restricted]: For strong violence and epic warfare”.

((Ed. WARNING to parents: This movie contains scenes of intense battle violence, and one short scene of mild (per Hollywood standards) sexuality.))

            At the beginning of the movie the following statements are given:

            “It is almost 100 years since Christian armies from Europe seized Jerusalem [Ed. Note: in 1099 A.D.].  Europe suffers in the grip of repression and poverty.  Peasant and lord alike flee to the Holy Land in search of fortune or fame.”

            “One knight [i.e., Godfrey of Ibelin] returns home in search of his son [i.e., Balian].”

            “France – 1184.”

SELECTED EXCERPTS OF GREAT DIALOGUE IN “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

            Now let’s take a look at some of the great dialogue (by William Monahan) in this movie along with some of my “editorial comments” (all “emphasis”, unless otherwise noted, is mine):

(An early scene in the movie has Catholic Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land):

Unidentified monk at the Pilgrim Camp on the road to Messina (addressing the Crusaders): “To kill an infidel is not murder – it is the path to heaven.”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding statement: Popes and other assorted Roman Catholic prelates exhorted men to go on crusades to the Holy Land with promises of the forgiveness of sins, entry to heaven if they died fighting on the crusades, and, of course, booty and the other fringe benefits of winning battles.  Roman Catholic monks, friars, and priests made the Church’s enemies to often appear less than human, and came up with such “war propaganda” phrases as the one seen immediately above.  After all, it certainly was no “sin” to kill a Moslem (an “infidel”) during a “holy” crusade – no matter what the circumstances of that murder.))

((Here, briefly, is a description of the seven major characters whose dialogue is used below:

• Balian (played by Orlando Bloom) – the character that is the main focus of this movie –– a poor village blacksmith who has only recently found out who his father (Godfrey of Ibelin) is – he finds himself heir to his father’s estate in Ibelin (not far from Jerusalem) – he is knighted by his dying father on the way to the Holy Land;
• Godfrey of Ibelin (played by Liam Neeson) – a Crusader knight and baron of Ibelin;
• The Hospitaler (played by David Thewlis) – a Crusader priest and knight;
• Sibylla (played by Eva Green) – princess of Jerusalem and sister of King Baldwin IV; also wife of villainous knight and lord Guy de Lusignan;
• King Baldwin IV  (played by Edward Norton) – the King of Jerusalem; a leper;
• Patriarch of Jerusalem  (played by Jon Finch) – a bishop and the highest ranking Catholic prelate in Jerusalem; and,
• Tiberius (played by Jeremy Irons) – a knight and lord; the Marshall of Jerusalem.))

((NOTE: Historical setting: The Christian [to be more accurate, “Catholic”] Crusaders had captured Jerusalem in 1099 from the Moslems, and in the process slaughtered almost all of the city’s inhabitants (men, women and children – mostly Moslems, some Jews, and possibly even a few Christians).  10,000 Moslems – men, women, and children – were slain just on the Temple Mount.  For a period of time an uneasy peace existed between the King of Jerusalem and Saladin [the famous Moslem warrior; Sultan of Egypt and Syria, 1174-93].  Religious (and “political”) fanatics on both sides were intent on ending that peace.  The movie “Kingdom of Heaven” wonderfully portrays this “battle” between those wanting peace and those wanting war.  In “Kingdom of Heaven” we find King Baldwin IV and the Marshall of Jerusalem (Tiberius) trying to keep the peace with Saladin. We also find two powerful Crusader lords (who are genuine historical persons), Guy de Lusignan and Reynald of Chatillon, trying to provoke a war.))

Godfrey (to Balian): “There is peace between Christian and Muslim.  We live together.  Or, between Saladin and the king [i.e., King Baldwin IV], we try.”

(Godfrey is dying from an earlier wound, and so as his final act in this life, he knights his son Balian, while administering the following oath to him):

Godfrey: “Be without fear in the face of your enemies.  Be brave and upright, that God may love thee.  Speak the truth always – even if it leads to your death.  Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong.  That is your oath.”  (Godfrey then adds): “Defend the king.  If the king is no more, protect the people.”

((Ed. Comments to the preceding dialogue:  The above is a wonderful oath, if one is ever to take an oath.  Compare this oath with the horrible blood oaths taken by those in secret societies, such as the oaths of higher level Jesuits, higher level Knights of Columbus, and higher level Masons, where they swear to blindly obey any and all orders from their superiors – no matter how evil those orders are – and without daring to ever question those orders!))

((Balian, upon arriving in Jerusalem, is having a conversation with the Hospitaler (the priest-knight who was the spiritual guide to Balian’s father)):

Balian: “It seems…I’ve lost my religion.”

The Hospitaler: “I put no stock in religion.  By the word ‘religion’ I’ve seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called ‘the will of God’.  Holiness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves.  And goodness – what God desires – is here [pointing to Balian’s head] and here [pointing to Balian’s heart].  By what you decide to do every day, you will be a good man…[pauses]…or not.”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: The words used in the dialogue immediately above, and the words of the oath administered by Godfrey to Balian, have me wondering if God Himself might not be smiling in approval at some of the great dialogue in this movie.  Truly, “organized religion” has been one of the greatest purveyors and promoters of hate and bloodshed that the world has ever seen! Throughout this movie we see clerics exhorting the “faithful” to slaughter other human beings (created in God’s image) because, say they, “It is God’s will”.))

(A following scene finds Balian and the Hospitaler priest-knight in a section of Jerusalem where some Templar Knights are being hung for killing Arabs [wrongfully, and in violation of the truce].  The following conversation takes place between Balian and the Hospitaler):

The Hospitaler: “These men are Templars [i.e., Knights Templar]. They killed Arabs [in violation of the truce between the king of Jerusalem and Saladin].”

Balian: “So they are dying – for what the pope would command them to do.”

The Hospitaler: “Yes, but not Christ, I think.  Nor this king [referring to King Baldwin IV].”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: Wicked popes indeed have commanded the slaughter of the Moslems – the “infidels”.  Wicked popes have also commanded the slaughter of innocent Christians, such as the Albigenses in southern France in the early 13^th century.  Since the pope claims to be the “vicar of Christ” on earth, the question that we must all ask ourselves is this: Would Jesus Christ have commanded the slaughter of innocent men, women, and children – whether Jew, Moslem, or Christian?))

(The following is said by Tiberius to Balian and the Hospitaler in his office – the office of the Marshall of Jerusalem):

Tiberius: “He [i.e., Saladin] has 200,000 men in Damascus [Syria] alone.  He could win a war if he goes to war…and he’s daily given cause for war by fanatics newly arrived from Europe…by Templar bastards like Reynald de Chatillon.”

(Balian is having a private conversation with the leper King of Jerusalem, King Baldwin IV):

King Baldwin (addressing Balian): “But remember that even when those who move you be kings – or men of power – your soul is in your keeping alone.  When you stand before God, you cannot say: ‘But I was told by others to do thus’, or that virtue was not convenient at the time.  This will not suffice.  Remember that.”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding statement: That is good advice for all of us. “We were just following orders” was not accepted as an “excuse” at the Nuremberg Trials [of Nazi war criminals] in Germany at the conclusion of World War II, and I doubt that such an “excuse” will be accepted by the LORD God Almighty when all human beings are judged in His court!))

(Princess Sibylla is commending Balian for the improvements he has made at his estate – such as an irrigation system he has set up):

Sibylla: “You’ve been given a patch of dirt, and it seems you will build a new Jerusalem here.”

Balian: “It is my land.  Who would I be if I did not try to make it better?”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: What kind of people would we be if we do not try to expose evil in order to make the world a better place in which to live?))

(Crusaders, led by Guy de Lusignan and Reynald of Chatillon, are shouting the following as they prepare to attack a Moslem caravan): “God wills it!”

(A council is being held with King Baldwin IV, Tiberius, Guy de Lusignan, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and various priests and knights present in the aftermath of the Crusader attack [led by Guy de Lusignan and Reynald of Chatillon] on the Moslem caravan):

Tiberius (Marshall of Jerusalem): “We must not go to war with Saladin.  We do not want it [i.e., a war], and we may not win it.”

Priest: “Blasphemy!” (The others who desire the war all join him in shouting “Blasphemy!”)

Priest (continuing to address the council): “An army of Jesus Christ, which bears His holy cross, cannot be beaten.”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: Those desiring peace were accused by a Catholic cleric of “blasphemy”.  Placing the supposed cross of Christ in the front of the marching army was supposed to “guarantee” victory.  Of course, the war hawks later prevail once Guy de Lusignan becomes king, and the Catholic Crusader army marches out with the “cross of Christ” in the advance guard of the army, and gets slaughtered by the Moslems!  Religious superstition and hocus-pocus may lull many of the “faithful” to sleep during peacetime; however, religious superstition and hocus-pocus cannot guarantee a victory on the field of battle!))

(After King Baldwin IV dies, the new king of Jerusalem (Guy de Lusignan) calls a war council after Reynald de Chatillon has attacked yet another Moslem caravan, and has slain Saladin’s sister):

Priest: “There must be war.  God wills it!”

(Balian then advises against taking the army out away from water supplies to fight Saladin.)

Priest: “We should fight the enemies of God!”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: Of course, the clergy and war hawks prevail, and the Catholic Crusader army marches out to its destruction.))

(Later, the city of Jerusalem is under siege by Saladin’s army.  The Catholic bishop – the Patriarch of Jerusalem – catches up to Balian as he is preparing the city’s defenses):

Bishop (addressing Balian): “We must leave the city [of Jerusalem].”

Balian: “How exactly, my lord bishop?”

Bishop: “The fastest horses from a lesser gate.”

Balian: “And the people?”

Bishop: “It is unfortunate about the people, but it is God’s will.”

((Ed. Comments to the preceding dialogue: The bishop is basically saying that Balian, the bishop, and possibly a few other high-ranking dignitaries within the city should escape on fast horses from a gate far from the main gate, thus leaving the population of the city to fend for itself.  This type of action by high-level prelates and civil officials has occurred throughout history.  Common people – don’t you know – are quite frequently “expendable”.))

(Balian is preparing to have dead bodies within the city of Jerusalem burned in order to prevent an outbreak of disease.  The following exchange takes place between him and the Patriarch of Jerusalem – the Bishop):

Bishop: “When a body is burnt, it cannot be resurrected until Judgment Day.”

Balian: “If we do not burn these bodies, we will all be dead of disease in three days.  God will understand, my lord.  And if He doesn’t, then He is not God, and we need not worry.”

((Ed. Comment to the preceding dialogue: Not only do some Roman Catholic Church “traditions” defy logic and reason, they also do not “square” with the Holy Bible.  A lot of superstition, fables, wives’ tales, and paganism itself entered the Roman Catholic Church quite early in its history.))

(A section of the wall in Jerusalem has been breached by Saladin’s army.  Balian is about to go out to talk to Saladin.  A short exchange takes place between Balian and the Patriarch of Jerusalem – the Bishop):

Bishop (to Balian and those standing close by): “Convert to Islam.  Repent later.”

Balian (sarcastically to the Bishop): “You’ve taught me a lot about religion, your Eminence.”

((Final Comments to the outstanding dialogue from this movie: Some readers may say that these conversations never really took place in history, nor did some of the scenes depicted in the movie.  To which I firmly reply: True – the exact words used in these dialogues may never have occurred in exactly the same sequence portrayed in the movie; however, you can be sure that similar conversations have been held throughout history!  And some of the scenes in this movie may not have occurred exactly in history as they were portrayed in this movie; however, you can be sure that such events as generally portrayed in this movie have taken place in history!  My study of European history – and of Church history – show me that this movie rings so very true in its description of these times!  And this movie is based upon solid history!))

SOME HISTORY ABOUT CRUSADES

            Most people know about the Catholic Crusades to recover the Holy Land, and especially Jerusalem, from the Moslems.  But few Americans seem to be aware of the fact that the Roman Catholic Church launched religious expeditions – crusades – against Christians, such as the Albigenses in southern France, and against the Waldenses (the Vaudois) in France and Italy.  Most of what follows (one paragraph has been added) is some history of “crusades” from a TTT newsletter I wrote on December 7, 2005 – entitled “Bloody Hands & Wicked Hearts”:

• 1095 – Pope Urban II proclaims the First Crusade.  Here is what historian Will Durant has written concerning this episode of religious genocide: “When in 1095, Pope Urban II proclaimed the First Crusade, some Christians [i.e., Roman Catholics] thought it desirable to kill the Jews in Europe before proceeding so far to fight Turks in Jerusalem.  Godfrey of Bouillon, having accepted the leadership of the crusade, announced that he would avenge the blood of Jesus upon the Jews…leaving not one of them alive; and his companions proclaimed their intention to kill all Jews who would not accept Christianity [Ed. Note: i.e., the Roman Catholic version of it].”

• 1096 – Catholic Crusaders slaughter half the Jews of Worms on their way through that town.

• 1098 – Catholic Crusaders capture the city of Antioch.  They kill almost all the inhabitants: Moslems, Jews, and even non-Catholic Christians – men, women & children.

• 1099 – Catholic Crusaders, sent on a holy mission by the pope of Rome, make it to the walls of Jerusalem.  Almost all of the city’s inhabitants – men, women, and children – Moslems, Jews, and possibly even a few Christians – are butchered by the “Christian” (i.e., Catholic) crusaders!

• 1208-1226 – The Albigensian Crusades take place.  Pope Innocent III orders a crusade to be launched against the Albigensian Christians in southern France, and armies are sent to exterminate them.  At the French city of Beziers over 20,000 men, women, and children are butchered.  The Albigensian Christians are wiped out.  Author Henry H. Halley tells us: “[The Albigenses] preached against the immoralities of the [Roman Catholic] priesthood, pilgrimages, worship of saints and idols…opposed the claims of the Church of Rome; made great use of the Scriptures.  …By 1167 they [i.e., the Albigenses] embraced possibly a majority of the population in South France.  …In 1208 a crusade was ordered by Pope Innocent III; a bloody war of extermination followed, scarcely paralleled in history.  Town after town was put to the sword, and the inhabitants murdered without distinction of age or sex.  …Within a hundred years the Albigenses were utterly rooted out.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

            Some would accuse me of “being hard” on the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.  I have indeed written much in the last year or so about its propensity for “holy” crusades, torture & Inquisition, mass murder & religious genocide, intolerance, etc., throughout history – and also of such “crimes against mankind” that occurred in the quite recent past (historically speaking), such as its vicious religious genocide in Croatia during World War II.  (The “price” of the Vatican’s Holocaust in Croatia was the slaughter of 600,000 to one million innocent Serb Orthodox Christians – men, women, and children!)  Such “crimes against mankind” need to be exposed, because the Roman Catholic Church still reserves to herself the “right” to use FORCE wherever and whenever she so determines that there is a “need” to do so!  The hierarchical system of the Roman Catholic Church (which bears NO resemblance to early Christianity) lends itself well to ecclesiastical tyranny; claims to infallibility and the “right” to use force; perpetuation of its monopolistic, totalitarian papacy at any cost, to include the outright murder of its enemies (real or perceived); and to mass murder via religious and/or State-sponsored genocide (using the State which it controls as its tool for mass murder); etc.

((Ed. Note: Hint to Hollywood: Why don’t you make some movies about the Inquisition, the Albigensian Crusades, and the Vatican’s Holocaust in Croatia in the 1940s?))

            My special thanks to all involved in making the two outstanding movies – my two “very favorite movies” in the world – “Kingdom of Heaven” and “King Arthur – Director’s Cut”, especially to those who wrote the great dialogue in both these movies that exposes the dark, ugly side of  “institutional religious fanaticism, cruelty, and barbarism”.

            If you would like to learn more about torture, Inquisition, “holy” crusades, and religious genocide, then please visit the following Internet web sites: www.calltodecision.com (please click on the “Tackling the Tough Topics” ‘box’ in the left-hand column of the home page) and www.tacklingthetoughtopics.net and then please read the following newsletters:

• “Death by Government and Death by Church”;
• “Bloody Hands & Wicked Hearts”; and,
• “Deceitful Revisers and Editors of History”.

Please buy a VHS or DVD copy of the movie “Kingdom of Heaven” – or rent a copy – and pay close attention to those scenes that correctly depict the “fanatical” use of such expressions as “It is God’s will” and “It is no sin to kill an infidel” to “justify” brutal warfare; sacking of cities; and the rape, pillage, and slaughter of civilian populations!

((NOTE: If you can, when purchasing the video or DVD of this movie, also buy the beautifully illustrated 176-page paperback book Kingdom of Heaven: The Ridley Scott Film and the History Behind the Story, edited by Diana Landau – and with an introduction by Ridley Scott.))

HERE ARE SEVERAL INTERESTING POPE QUOTES CONCERNING CRUSADES:

            “We confidently reply that those who shall die in battle fighting bravely against pagans or unbelievers shall receive eternal life.” – Pope John VIII

            “Now we hope that none of you will be slain, but we wish you to know that the Kingdom of Heaven will be given as a reward to those who shall be killed in this war.”

            Pope Leo IV

((Ed. Comment to the preceding two quotations: There is nothing in the Holy Bible to indicate that the sole act of dying “in battle fighting bravely against pagans or unbelievers” or being slain in a crusade sanctioned and called for by a pope will obtain for anyone “eternal life” or “the Kingdom of Heaven”.  Such promises are the “inventions” of Biblically ignorant popes.))

            “A king need not fear to command massacres, when those will retain his subjects in obedience…

            We order you, in the name of religion, to invade his states, burn his cities, and massacre his people.” (860 A.D., in a letter to the King of Bulgaria)

            Pope Nicholas I (800? – 867 A.D.; pope: 858-867)

CLOSING QUOTES:

            “The king, Richard the Lion-Hearted, went on to the Holy Land and crusaded for three years.  His struggle to regain Jerusalem ended in an uneasy truce with Saladin.

            Nearly a thousand years later, peace in the Kingdom of Heaven remains elusive.”

(Closing statement of the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”)

“POWER tends to corrupt, and ABSOLUTE POWER corrupts absolutely.”

             John E. E. Dalberg Acton (1843-1902; English historian)

            “And of all plagues with which mankind are cursed,

            Ecclesiastic tyranny is the worst.” – Daniel DeFoe (1660-1731; English writer)

            “Men and women become accomplices to those evils they fail to oppose.”

            (Author unknown to this editor)

            “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

            Edmund Burke (1729-1797; British orator, author, and statesman)