The heresy view of Islam predated the crusades in John of Damascus’ writings
Evidence
The depiction of Muslims as pagans and idolaters ultimately gave way after the First Crusade to the belief that Islam was a form of Christian heresy. This perception, prominent by the twelfth century, actually found expression already in the first century of Christianity’s encounter with Islam in the writings of John of Damascus. John was an eighth-century theologian from Syria who spent part of his career serving in the government of Caliph Abd al-Malik in Damascus before resigning his post and joining the St. Sabbas Monastery near Jerusalem. He is best known for his defense of the use of icons and images in Christian worship over against those who wanted to destroy images out of fear that Christians were worshipping them. The prominent place that the veneration of icons has held historically in Eastern Orthodox Christianity since the eighth century is due in part to John’s theological defense of them. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 128
Categorization
- XREF: John of Damascus’ heresy framework is foundational for the later ‘Islam is a Christian heresy’ polemic that recurs through medieval theology. — connects to: Crusaders justified conquest by recasting Muslims as pagan Roman idolaters — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 125; Medieval depictions of Islam as heresy served to justify violence and resist conversion — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 139; The heresy view of Islam reached Western Europe via ninth-century dhimmi Christians in Spain — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 133 (+4 more)
Broader Connections
- Early Christian writings about Islam existed before any real contact with Muslims.
#corroborates(0.70) - Medieval depictions of Islam as heresy served to justify violence and resist conversion
#corroborates(0.60) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 139 - The heresy view of Islam reached Western Europe via ninth-century dhimmi Christians in Spain
#expands(0.50) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 133 - Christians ignored Islam’s actual beliefs because they read Muslim conquests as divine punishment
#complicates(0.40) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 123