Stark, Rodney. God's battalions: the arguments in favor of the crusades. 1st ed. New York: HarperOne, 2009. 276 pages $11.05. God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark, will cause readers to question much of what they know about the Crusades, the Crusaders themselves, and the formidable Muslim forces they encountered along the way. the border. path towards the liberation of the Holy Land. Stark gives compelling reasons for the Crusades and argues that readers should not be too quick to follow the lead of historians who present the Crusaders in a less than positive light. Stark presents his case based on evidence that justifies the valiant struggles of the crusaders who accomplished the task of keeping Christianity alive through troubled times. Summary Stark believes that the Crusades hold a valuable place in Christian history. He also acknowledges that most historians would disagree with his conclusions. Its aim is to examine the motivations of the Crusaders and thus defend their mission to reconquer the city of Jerusalem. Most historians describe the Crusaders as barbarians, hungry for material gain and out to convert souls. Stark claims that such misunderstandings have existed for three hundred years. Stark exposes the common misconception: “During the Crusades, an expansionist and imperialist Christianity brutalized, pillaged, and colonized a tolerant and peaceful Islam” (8). Stark blames the Crusades on the Muslim community. Islamic colonization began in the 7th century and swept away Christian communities "from the Middle East, Egypt and all of North Africa, then Spain and southern Italy, as well as many major islands in the Mediterranean, including Sicily, Corsica, Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, Malta, and Sardinia" (9)....... middle of paper ......nt in his research for the book, he becomes a believer in Christ.ConclusionThe Battalions of God: The Arguments for the Crusades by Rodney Stark are well written and extremely interesting. His work is easy to read, but nevertheless erudite in its approach to the Crusades. Every pastor should add this book to their library! Overall, the book would be a valuable resource for any Christian wishing to better understand the historical struggle of faith during this important period in history. God's Battalions is well researched and contains a critical response to anyone who thinks the Crusades or Crusaders were greedy, anti-Jesus, or barbaric. The Crusades were necessary to defend the Christian faith against Islamic forces determined to make the world their footstool. This book is an essential tool and reliable resource for understanding the current struggle between Christianity and Islam..