Assalaam walaikum,
I was thinking the other day. And I ran into an article which really got my head spinning. So hear me out and let me know what you think.
The best of Judea-Christian values were embodied in the romantic tales of the Knights of the Round Table. By the word romantic I am not using this to identify boy meets girl and the trials and tribulations of love affairs.
The Western world was destitute. We are given inklings of this world from the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer. His tales of the pilgrims returning to England do not paint a wonderful picture of pious human beings.
Yet, a body of literature emerges from all over Europe. The unifying theme is Romance. The notion that there are noble men who serve a king and save a damsel have been driven in our heads. English common law was certainly used as a backdrop. All that is good and right was embodied by the knight in shinning armor.
To cope with the defeat of the Crusades, the Western world built a myth for the fallen warrior. The king was a broken man, his most loyal knight betrayed him. His wife was untrue. The knights fought amongst themselves. One knight's dream was another nightmare. One was a fool. His mother made him a clowns outfit.
Yet, the code of perfect behavior, the code of chivalry, was set in these tales. That was the ideal to strive for, to go to Camelot. It is still engraved in many.
The romantic tales did have the effect desired. It gave many a reason to fight Islam.
I was thinking the other day. And I ran into an article which really got my head spinning. So hear me out and let me know what you think.
The best of Judea-Christian values were embodied in the romantic tales of the Knights of the Round Table. By the word romantic I am not using this to identify boy meets girl and the trials and tribulations of love affairs.
The Western world was destitute. We are given inklings of this world from the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer. His tales of the pilgrims returning to England do not paint a wonderful picture of pious human beings.
Yet, a body of literature emerges from all over Europe. The unifying theme is Romance. The notion that there are noble men who serve a king and save a damsel have been driven in our heads. English common law was certainly used as a backdrop. All that is good and right was embodied by the knight in shinning armor.
To cope with the defeat of the Crusades, the Western world built a myth for the fallen warrior. The king was a broken man, his most loyal knight betrayed him. His wife was untrue. The knights fought amongst themselves. One knight's dream was another nightmare. One was a fool. His mother made him a clowns outfit.
Yet, the code of perfect behavior, the code of chivalry, was set in these tales. That was the ideal to strive for, to go to Camelot. It is still engraved in many.
The romantic tales did have the effect desired. It gave many a reason to fight Islam.
