| LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2025 | 25
Richard Crowe's December presentation of the
history of dirigibles and blimps was well-received.
On Mon., Jan. 6, and again on Feb. 3, Marty Mangan
will speak on the European Crusades in the Holy
Land between 1095 and 1291, perhaps a relevant topic
given current events. A number of motivations were
involved: mostly religious, some political. Most were
Church-sanctioned and lead by the symbol of the
cross, hence the Latin word, crucesignatus, then the
French word croisade, then the Anglicized crusade.
Church motivation and purpose: return Christianity
to the Holy Land after Muslim conquest a few
centuries earlier. To help support its conquests the
Papacy awarded indulgences to sanction the killing
and twice taxed all its Christian citizens with the
threat of excommunication for failure to pay. One can
argue that the Crusades were an assertion of Catholic
Church authority over the Christian lands within its
realm. There were a number of Crusades over the
years, each fascinatingly different.
HISTORY GROUP
Our Savior's
Lutheran Church — ELCA
Sunday Worship 9 am
also on Facebook Live
Sunday & Weekly Bible Studies
All are welcome
(951) 849-3343 • 1320 W. Williams, Banning
oursaviorsbanningca.com
