One of my favorite priestly blogs is written by a Fr. Martin Fox in Ohio. I just had to mention this post. It presents a (note a “a” and not “the”) Catholic perspective on the history of the spread of Islam. Here’s the start of it:
Sadly, all was peaceful and a garden of delights for the peaceful prophet and his followers until suddenly, one day in the 7th century, the armies of Byzantium, led by the pope, landed at Acre and marched to Arabia, and at the point of the sword, demanded the prophet (blessed be he!) comply to their outrageous demands. The peaceloving followers of the great prophet gathered around to witness the shocking scene:”You are the prophet of Islam?”
“Yes.”
“We demand that you invade our lands; form armies and sweep across North Africa; then we will gladly renounce our faith and become Muslim,” bellowed Pope Leo the Great.
It only gets better..