Are Christianity and Islam Violent Religions?

Question of the Week: Muslims I have met assert that Christianity is just as violent as Islam. How would you respond?

My Answer: Muslims who make this argument usually presume that Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, and the Inquisitors were Christians. They may have lived in nations where many referred to themselves as Christians, but history shows that these despots were slaughtering people who were committed followers of Jesus Christ. Also, keep in mind that in Islam there is no separation of religion and state. Hence, in nations ruled by Islamic law there is no distinction between the violence committed by the state and the violence committed by Islam. Note, too, that Islamic doctrine has promoted evangelism by the sword whereas Christian doctrine condemns it.