
Wretched Radio with Todd Friel Have You Been Lied To About This Major Historical Event—Here’s The Truth
20 snips
Feb 12, 2026 They challenge the common narrative about the Crusades and who actually controlled the Middle East before Islam’s expansion. They unpack whether crusaders sought wealth or sacrificed everything for belief. They spotlight quiet struggles in modern Christian life like doubt, loneliness, and pornography. They offer practical ways churches and individuals can respond to and support those wrestling with faith.
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Crusades Viewed As Reactionary History
- The common narrative that the Crusades were unprovoked Christian land-grabs omits centuries of earlier Islamic conquests.
- Todd Friel emphasizes that much of the Middle East and parts of Europe were Christian before Islam's expansion, reframing the Crusades as a reactionary counterattack.
Medieval Demographics Shifted Before Crusades
- By the 8th century large swathes of formerly Christian lands were under Muslim rule, changing the regional religious map.
- Friel uses this demographic shift to argue the Crusades were responses to long-term territorial and religious losses Christians suffered since the 7th century.
Don't Treat Crusaders As Greedy Opportunists
- Do not assume crusaders sought wealth because crusading often bankrupted participants and strained European finances.
- Paul Crawford and Todd Friel note crusades caused inflation, income taxes, and bankrupt nobles, showing financial ruin outweighed profit for most.


