It may be that in modern times Christians are relatively peaceful, but that is a mostly recent development. Whether it was the crusades to "liberate" the Holy Land from muslim control, or the Inquisition to smoke out heretics, or the brutal persecution of fellow Christians who had somewhat different theologies than the dominant one, Christian zeal has produced barbarism after barbarism in the record of history.
Now, I do believe that modern Christianity has turned into a very peaceful and good force in society, but that clearly was not always the case. And to single out Islam as a violent religion is unfair and hypocritical, in my view. What's more likely responsible for Islam's violent tendencies is the fact that most muslim countries are still trapped in the middle ages. When they finally enter modernity, they will likely abandon this self-destructive philosophy.
As for the Crusades, the property was Christian before the Muslims claimed it. Don't forget the Muslims had overrun Andalusia, Malta, and more before the West started defending itself.
Of course, even the Muslims would have a hard time competing with the carnage of socialists in the 20th century.
Atheist zeal killed millions IN THIS CENTURY. Yet, where is the condemnation?
Christ taught love and peace toward unbelievers, Muhammed taught violence and hate toward unbelievers.
A man can't be a Christian unless he practices love toward all, and a man cant be a muslim unless he practices hate...
The horrors committed by so-called “Christians” consitute supreme blasphemy. They are not to be excused. They also are in direct opposition to Jesus Christ and His teachings, and they always were. Those who committed such atrocities, one might say, “served Satan”--certainly not God.
There are so-called “Christians”, in the world today, who do the same thing. In fact, these are false-Christians (I like “faux--Christians”, myself)
Whether or not contemporary Islam is analgous to this I don't know. Some say it is. Some say it isn't. Maybe Bin Laden et al. are “faux--Muslims”; I certainly hope so.
I myself tend to be Oprahized. I think that people can probably get to God by train, plane, automobile, flying carpet or what you will. However--for myself--Jesus Christ is the only One to Whom I am willing to entrust a matter of such importance, and , therefore, I am willing to accopt no other mediator, advocate, or guide.
I have asked Him to bring me to God, and I believe that He is doing that. I also believe that He will bring anyone.
There may be another way--but I'm not taking a chance on it. And furthermore, Jesus Christ is All that I want.
Some form of Islam may be a way for all I know.
However, you can be sure that Muslims who behave as Bin Laden and Al Qaida and these jihadists and the faux--Christians who commit similar acts are not worshipping God--and on some level they no doubt know it.
The death toll of all of the Christian inquisitions in history (over 5 centuries) is approximately the same as the death toll of 2 hours' worth of Muslim terrorism on 9/11.
Our jobs are to make sure they accomplish this in, oh, about 50 years or less.