Chapters 14-15

In these chapters, we begin to see the problems arise between the three faiths of Jerusalem.

Armstrong first discusses the meaning of the title of chapter 14, jihad. This word means not only 'holy war,' but also 'struggle' and is used in this meaning in the Quran.  I think it is interesting that Armstrong titled Chapter 14 this because it seems as though the initial unveiling of the struggle occurs in this chapter. I think it was a wise move of her to incorporate this title in with the book but I can't help but wonder how this would come across to members of the Jewish and Christian faiths in modern-day Jerusalem.  Is something as small as the title of a chapter capable of irritating these believers? Who knows.

The primary leader at this time in Jerusalem was Saladin, who had led the city safely during the Crusades.  Armstrong says "he had always granted a truce when the Crusaders had asked for one; he had, for the most part, treated his prisoners fairly and kindly," (295).  This description reminds me of the Muslim ideals that were previously mentioned; how a Muslim should be kind and at peace with those around him.

One of his first decisions was to purify the Haram, which had been contaminated by the Templars' "latrines & furniture" so that it could be made ready for Friday Prayers.  At this point, the city was becoming readily known as a "Muslim" city, something that must have infuriated those that felt they, too, had a right to the area.  An act that took me by surprise was the remodeling of the Church of St. Anna into a mosque, because it seems like a political disaster that almost certainly led to hostility from the Christians.

However, Armstrong later mentions that the ideas of Saladin did not include pushing the Jews and Christians out from the city.  It is an interesting notion that while he claimed to have wanted all three faiths to peacefully reside in Jerusalem, he was destroying the very essences of their connection to the divine (in this case, the Church).

I also found it interesting that the Christians of Spain were pushing out and exiling the Jews of the area and considered them to be foreigners in their own country.  This entire time period seems like a bunch of hostile people just taking their problems out on whoever is immediately available.

Just by reading these chapters, one can see the way unintentional acts of political bullying led to a hostility towards all religions but your own.  Modern day conflicts in Jerusalem seem to be a direct result of the actions made as early as the Crusades.