FIGHTING FORTHE FAITH

MEDIEVAL HOLY WARS AROUND THE WORLD

Usually, but not necessarily, holy warriors worship a divine being or a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Usually, but not necessarily, they subscribe to authoritative dogmas that clearly distinguish between right belief and theological error. Usually, but not necessarily, they are instructed by a priesthood, and usually, but not necessarily, they are guided by a body of sacred scripture.

What they necessarily share is “religious faith” broadly defined, a belief that they have a spiritual or pragmatic connection with a transcendental something or someone. That belief can be as simple as a reverence for sacred forces, such as the spirits of nature or of ancestors. It can be a Supreme Cosmic Spirit that governs the natural world and the lives and destinies of all beings. Even more abstractly, a universal Law can be sufficient. And thus, over the ages, devotees of Shinto’s spirits, Hindus of every caste and cult, and Buddhist defenders of Dharma have waged many holy wars.

Four types of holy war

Holy wars have come in all sizes and shapes, but overall they fall into four categories: ritual holy wars; holy wars of conquest and conversion; defensive holy wars; and millenarian holy wars. These are not mutually exclusive, and many holy wars have attributes of multiple classifications.

Ritual holy wars are wars in which vio lence and sacred ritual are one and the same. Such ritualised holy wars include expeditions aimed at taking human trophies, such as heads and scalps, to satisfy the demands of a deity, the spirits, or deceased ancestors. Holy wars of conquest and (or) conversion are normally wars intended to expand the cult and authority on earth of a particular deity. Defensive holy wars are waged to protect sacred space, sacred objects, co-religionists, or the very existence of a religion or religious way of life. Millenarian holy wars are apocalyptic wars between the forces of Good and Evil, wars of cosmic magnitude in the minds of holy warriors