Perhaps at this point it might be good to remember a joke I heard a few years back, during the height of the ethnic cleansing tragedy:
Q: What's the difference between a Bosnian Christian and a Bosnian Muslim?
A: On Sunday, the Bosnian Christian doesn't go to church, and on Friday the Bosnian Muslim doesnt go to mosque
Remember that the Oklahoma City bombing was done by men who claimed to be true American patriots, and selectively quoted the founding fathers.
Instead of looking at what is done "in the name of" islam or christianity, by people whose commitment may be more tribal, political, or economic than spiritual, in fairness we'd best look at what the religions themselves teach.
There is no Christian doctrine that corresponds to the Muslim conversion by conquest, or "death to the infidel." In contrast, Christians are directly taught to submit to the political and social dictates of higher authorities, even if they are frankly pagan. We are taught to love those who hate us, to pray for those who persecute us, and to extend service beyond what is unfairly demanded ("going the extra mile").
Lastly, to those who would prefer a world without religion and cite atrocities jsutified on religious grounds: in fairness, shouldnt you also cite the atrocities justified by materialist or atheist philosophies? Please don't forget that Napolean killed thousands of innocents (including those who refused to recant their faith), instituted the first modern "secret police" state, and was responsible for mass atrocities in conquered lands -- in the name of France and Empire. Hitler justified his slaughters on the grounds that there was no God, and that for the good of humanity only the strongest people should survive -- a nasty but direct outgrowth of Social Darwinism and Nietzche. Stalin killed even more than Hitler, even before the war, and during the war he used his troops like ammunition to be freely consumed -- because to him all that mattered was presrvation of the State (and his own power).
One can thus show that in terms of sheer lethal ferocity, godlessness is more deadly that even miusused religion.
Regards,
Simaril
