Medieval Christian polemics against Islam really targeted domestic heresies, not Muslims
Evidence
It is in this context that the virulent attacks against Muhammad must be placed. Guibert de Nogent, admitting that he could only repeat what the “vulgus” said about Muhammad rather than produce a proper theological refutation of his doctrine, presented Muhammad as a clever scoundrel, a heresiarch whose life was a mocking mirror image of that of a true Christian saint, specifically in order to justify the crusaders’ aggression against Muslims. … Yet their portrayal of Islam reflects their preoccupations with heresies closer to home. The result is in no way a “dialogue” with Islam, nor even an informed monologue. Despite Peter of Cluny’s pretension of addressing Muslim readers in hopes of converting them, he (like Alan of Lille) in fact attempted to defend Christianity against yet another oriental Christological heresy that had spread its tentacles westward. For all concerned, the culprit responsible for this heresy is Muhammad; the central task of the polemicist is the ridicule and denigration of the prophet of Islam. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 886
Yet their portrayal of Islam reflects their preoccupations with heresies closer to home. The result is in no way a “dialogue” with Islam, nor even an informed monologue. Despite Peter of Cluny’s pretension of addressing Muslim readers in hopes of converting them, he (like Alan of Lille) in fact attempted to defend Christianity against yet another oriental Christological heresy that had spread its tentacles westward. For all concerned, the culprit responsible for this heresy is Muhammad; the central task of the polemicist is the ridicule and denigration of the prophet of Islam. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 886
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the project on how religious polemic is really aimed at internal enemies — parallels the move in other polemic literatures of exteriorizing an internal threat. — connects to: Medieval anti-Islamic polemics aimed to fortify Christians rather than convert Muslims; Christian anti-Islamic polemic targeted Christian readers, not Muslims — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1469
- DEEPTHINKING: Underpins a subtle point: the ‘other’ is constructed from the projector’s own internal heresy fears, making the genealogical target genuinely internal all along — worth sitting with.
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 886