Hinduism v. Christianity: Evolving or Set in Stone? Part I

So let's get started with then endeavour shall we? I would like to start by first addressing the issue of the Crusade; I feel like the Crusade is a major issue that non-Christians look at and view as something that Christians should have never done.

The First Crusade in 1095 AD began as a call from Emperor Alexius I Comnenus of the Byzantine Empire for Western Christians to rally and fight the invading Seljuk Turks, who were Muslims. Pope Urban II answered this call by having loyal Barons and Knights from France and Germany march out with their armies to help their Eastern Christian allies from being invaded. This is a just cause in Christianity, the protection of your neighbor and those weaker then you.

What happened then was not an act condoned by God at all. Like all humans, Christians are broken, and they quickly turned into their hate and greed, slaughtering Jews and Muslims alike for land and power. Not all of the Christians did this, many kept the sole purpose of alleviating the suffering and domination put on by the Seljuk Turks. In this regard, it is important for all people, Christians and Non-Christians a like to focus on the fact that we are all humans and we all make mistakes and give into our own selfish desires.

So the reason for the Crusade was to save fellow Christians from Muslim invaders and to save the Holy Land. When the Seljuk Turks captured the Holy Land they stopped Jewish and Christian travelers from going to their Holy Places and from partaking of the market of Jerusalem. So not only were the Muslims conquering and converting, but they were not allowing people to go to pray at the places they kept as Holy. When the Christians occupied Jerusalem, all holy places were left open and religious tolerance abounded in the Holy Land. That is one thing to keep in mind. Christians did good things, far more good things then bad things.

But you're wondering what is the deal with talking about the Crusades when I said I was going to talk about the differences between Christianity and Hinduism and whether or not Christianity has remained too static for it's own good. Well, my point here is to not only eliminate some basic ideas of Christian treachery, but to also prove that Christianity is by far not static. It is an ever developing religion, maybe not in terms of doctrine, but in terms of the relationship each and every Christian shares with God and Christ Jesus.

I myself find my religion continuously changing in my own life and in my heart. As I grow closer to God, my life changes and I have to adapt to the changes or face being lost. I have to rely on my God ever more fully, and in that reliance I find the evolution in my religion. Christianity is not just a religion, it really is a relationship. Each relationship that is held by the believer creates a different Christianity then the next you will find. So what I am trying to say is that Christianity is not set in stone, just the ideal to which we hope to achieve, a loving and lasting relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I will write again soon, next to begin the discovery of how truly different Hinduism and Christianity are.

In Christ's Love,

Eric