ARE CHRISTIANS TO BLAME FOR THE CRUSADES AND THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS? [1 of 3] Christians are often criticized for supposedly committing horrible atrocities during the Crusades. But I’m a Christian and I wasn’t there. I wasn’t involved in those crimes. Besides that, the despicable acts during the Crusades were not even committed by Christians. Catholic popes directed that behavior from their Catholic followers. I don’t defend the wrongful actions taken by crusaders because it was wrong, but Christians weren’t involved. A similar issue comes up with the Salem Witch Trials that did involve some so-called Christians. Those women at the time of the witch trails. Well, first, two wrongs don't make a right. And second, that barbaric and unthinkable behavior is indefensible but it wasn’t for a biblical reason that the witch trials happened. Hundreds of people were  arrested, imprisoned, tried, and found quilty of practicing witchcraft. Nineteen of them were hanged, one was crushed under heavy stones, and five more died in prison. That is all horrible but those punishments for witchcraft were definitely not from God’s New Testament teachings for Christians! For this past 2000 years of the Church Age, God has not condoned those practices. Instead, we are Christ followers of the New Covenant, striving to be like Him and not living under that pre-Christ Old Covenant!