It is at that level that I believe people are comparing the Islamic conquests with the initial spread of Christianity
That would make for a rather convenient comparison, wouldn't it? What you would be doing then is comparing the period of Christian history where Christians lacked political power entirely whereas in the history of Islam there is a community to protect within in a decade.
No, let's compare apples with applies, not oranges. IN other words we look at what Christendom does when it has political power with what the Islamic world does when it has similar power. "
If you mean to talk about Evangelical Christian demonization of Islam, say it.
Of course, I'm talking about that! Look what threads I'm responding to: "Why we must protect our borders" and "How to fix Islam" both of which have as their agenda to keep Muslims out of the country. What are these threads doing but spreading hatred? What impression do you think that that tells people about Christianity?
Then why did you bring it up as an example of why you're not convinced when people say the era of Christian violence is over? Surely you had some kind of point in pointing out that Christians were bad here, there, and everywhere?
No, but I clearly see evil in this very thread, the kind of evil that leads to genocides.
I don't know what a Christian dome
I presume you know I meant Christendom.
is, but I think they made their choices or had that choice made for them, so why not either look at what they did or ask some of their descendants what they think, if you think this is such a good question. I don't think it is, because again, I'm not having a discussion about Europe. Europe is not the beginning of Christianity, has nothing of an essentially Christian character (to me; I'm sure plenty of people disagree), and if none of Europe had ever been Christian, my church still would be. Europe is but a blip on the Christian radar, as is America. A point on the map, and nothing more.
Unfortunately it was Europeans who made Christianity the largest religion on the face of the earth, and they did so through conquest.
Now it's "Christendom" as something distinct from Christians? Hmm...convenient.
If you read my past posts I've been saying Christendom all along.
This may fit your own syncretic religion's distinctive approach to other religions, but it's a nonsense statement if I've ever heard one. Where do you think we got the entire Old Testament, the basis of many of our rituals, many of our most beloved figures, and at least some of our outlook from?
Yeah, they include Judaism, although Jews suffered more than anyone at their hands.
The video I posted in the "How to fix Islam" thread, with Coptic youth standing up for the rights of Bahai and atheists in their country, says much more to me about who is essentially what than the fact that they happen to be Copts and I am also a member of that Church. Until the Muslim majority in every country in which they predominate stands up before their legislators, as these people did, and says "We do not want laws that privilege us as the expense of minorities; we want a truly free and equal society where we are treated equally regardless of confession in every conceivable respect",
I doubt if it was the 'majority' of Copts who did this. But there are Muslims who stand up for the human rights of everyone:
http://www.bahairights.org/
That website was designed by Muslims, not Baha'is.