I'm currently taking a Medieval Christianity class and the Crusades are obviously an interesting part. Does anyone know of any sources/articles that discuss whether or not religious motives were completely genuine throughout the crusades?
As an introduction to the religious motives and devotion of the early crusaders I would recommend two books by Jonathan Riley-Smith.
What Were the Crusades? is a short book, the text is only about 80 pages, but it covers a lot of the religious ideas of the crusading movement, pilgrimage, martyrdom, remission of sins, fighting for Christ.
The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading covers a lot more ground, specifically for the time before, during and after the First Crusade, including the narration based on primary sources. It gives you an in-depth idea of how the crusaders considered themselves as the new chosen people of God, given that they were successful against what they perceived as impossible odds. The roles of relics and visions of saints, which are a significant part of the religious connotations of the First Crusade, are also covered more in this book.