medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
As a Turkish scholar raised in a muslim culture (though modern Turkey is
a lot more secular than many European countries and USA), and studying
the medieval Franciscan Order, I have been amazed over the past 10 years
how many European and North American scholars I have met ask me the
question "how come you are muslim and studying Franciscans?". It amazes
me since I wonder whether they ever think why these two things should be
related at all. Does anybody ask to an English historian studying
medieval Italy 'how come you are English and studying Italy?' I don't
think that 'me being muslim' ever was an issue in my choice of studying.
I could just as well study grain trade in medieval Sicily and I am
guessing that noone would say 'how come you are muslim and you study
medieval grain trade?'.
My point is the following:
Why are the atrocities of many people that populated the medieval world
are linked to their religion? Didn't the Ottoman empire with Selim I
wage war against muslim arabs of the Middle East and North Africa? Does
anyone seriously imagine that Ottomans would not take over the Eastern
Europe if it were Muslim territory of Arabs? Are we in any way short of
wars between France, England, Germany and Italy in the European history?
Christians did not think twice about attacking Christians, nor did
Muslims ever hesitate in attacking Muslims in if it was in their best
economic and political interest. Why is it that when Muslims attack
Christians, it is linked to religion? People in the street might be
excused for looking at it that way, but I expect better from historians.
I am consuming a huge effort telling my students that Crusades in
general was not so much about religion but more about chasing land, fame
and adventure.
To read history backwards is bad scholarship, in fact to me it is not
scholarship at all. Accepting the present-day terrorism associated with
muslim groups as the end point of the historical relations between
Christians and muslims, and reading the past in a way to explain how it
got to this point is doomed to present invalid conclusions. A sad waste
of time.
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|