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During the crusades religion was the main focal point. Each religion thought that they were doing things the right way according to God. Both Muslims and Christians tolerated the opposite religion to a certain extent.

However there was usually a hidden agenda. With the Muslims it was convert or pay us taxes, and with the Christians it seemed to be more, convert to Christianity or die. Christians really seem to be more violent than the Muslims when it comes to conversion.

Muslims tolerated Christians because they really did not want them to convert and poison the faith. Muslim toleration was limited. Muslims could not conduct most forms of business with Christians. They were forbidden to touch, by food or really be in any kind of close contact with them. Muslims could not even sell educational books to the Christians unless it was on a Christian topic.

When Muslims captured a city, a pact was made with the people. The Christians were allowed to continue being Christians, but there were strings attached. Christians agreed not to teach children the Quran; that we will not make a show of the Christian religion nor invite anyone to embrace it; that we will not prevent any of our kinsman from embracing Islam, if they so desire. These are just some of the rules set down in the Pact of Omar.

Muslims did not purposely set out to convert Christians; they were just more tolerant of them. Muslims were not supposed to use force according to the Quran. Only if the Muslims were not the aggressors were they free to use force.

Sura 2(190), you shall fight in the cause of God against those who attack you but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors. Sura 2 (191), you may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you, for oppression is worse than murder. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is just retribution for such disbelievers. Not only do these rules apply to Muslim and Christian, but also Jews.

According to Christian law "no force or compulsion shall be employed in any way against a Jew to induce him to become a Christian; but the Christians should convert him to the faith of our lord Jesus Christ by means of texts of the holy scriptures, and by kind words, for no one can love or appreciate a service which is done him by compulsion". This law encourages the conversion of Jews but not by force; because if converted by force the Jew could not appreciate Christianity. In regards to the Muslims the same attitude was taken as with

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