Answer to Al's question

QUESTION: Why would they say that if you die in a tournament it was an act of suicide?


ANSWER: Churches thought that it was sinful to fight, and that if anyone died in a mock battle it was simply considered suicide, and that person was not honored.

I found it here: http://go.grolier.com/

I found this picture here: http://www.cartoonstock.com/vintage/directory/m/monks.asp