For century after century after century, the Christian church had designated the people to be despised: the religious believers called Jews.
Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in 1095 to wrest the Holy Land from infidels. "Deus Vult" (God wills it) became the rallying cry.
When religion is the ruling force in a society, it produces horror. The stronger the supernatural beliefs, the worse the inhumanity.
In 1208, Pope Innocent III declared a major crusade to destroy the Albigenses. Some 20,000 knights and peasants answered the call.
The victim was required not only to confess that he was a heretic, but also to accuse his children, wife, friends, and others as fellow…
During the 1400s, the Inquisition shifted its focus toward witchcraft, and the next 300 years witnessed a bizarre orgy of religious delusion.
Without religion, divisions would blur with passing generations; children would adapt to new times, mingle, intermarry, forget ancient wounds.