Film Lens
Constantine's Sword is a documentary that examines the historical relationship between the Catholic Church and Jews, focusing on the implications of religiously inspired violence. The film is based on James P. Carroll's book and features his perspective as a former Catholic priest. It traces the origins of this relationship back to the Roman Emperor Constantine I's adoption of Christianity in 312 AD, suggesting that this marked the beginning of a problematic alliance between the military and the Church.
Carroll discusses significant events such as the Crusades, the Roman Inquisition, and the Holocaust, framing them within a narrative of Christian anti-Judaism. He also raises concerns about the influence of evangelical beliefs within the U.S. military and how this affects foreign policy. The film concludes with a moving message that
Why Watch
- •See Liev Schreiber and Ted Haggard discuss faith's impact.
- •Find out how Constantine's vision shaped military history.
- •Watch Aaron Neville perform 'With God On Our Side' at the end.
Did You Know
•The film is based on James P. Carroll's 2001 book of the same name.
•It runs for 95 minutes and features multiple languages including Yiddish.
•The documentary discusses events from the Crusades to the Holocaust.
Perfect For
Religious historyJewish studiesMilitary influence