Chris,

>>I think that there are many fine individuals who are members of the Islam faith. However, it really isn't as peaceful or harmless a faith as some would want you to believe. Look at the 1400 years of its history. It's factionalized and there are many sects that hate each other and so forth. Not very pretty I suppose.
>
>Of course, Christianity is completely different in this regard.


Well, yes, actually it is. I would posit that those who called/call themselves 'Christian' and who countenance horrific acts like these are no such thing at all. You may see this as splitting hairs and I understand this but Christianity in no way countenances this kind of behavior and explicitly asserts that 'those who say they love God but hate their brothers are not in the light'. Check out the book of 1 John. Here's 1 John 2:9 "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now." Paul, in Galations, specifically asserts that those who are murderes will not inheret the Kingdom of God, so I'd say that was pretty direct. <g>

IOW, what preople say is always differentiated within Christianity with what they do, so, no, those who commit murder in the name of Christianity I would dare say are not Christians. There are many people who call themselves Christian Chris who I would think will have some explaining to do some day. I must also point out that I am not qualified to say whom these people are, only what the Bible says, though I surely can look at their acrions and compare them to their words.

Are there hypocrites inserting themselves into Christianity? You bet, but that doesn't change Christianity one whit. Don't confuse the two.