"Don't know about you Mr Carroll, but I haven't heard of any Christian community which is currently forcing anyone else to convert at the point of a sword"
Didn't say they have, just that they would if they could just as they have in the past
I quoted the Christian doctrine in response to your Muslim one.
All churces, no mater which particular brand of superstition they drom in their shopping trolley, are a threat to the lives of believers and non-believers alike if they are given enough power.
Scriptures such as that you quoted are meaningless without that power.
In the past the Christian church hasn't bothered with the sword - they tortured them util they recanted then burned them alive before they could change their minds.
I spent a large part of my life associating with ordinary, down-to-earth Muslims - I have said a hundred times that I found virtually every one of them far easier to discuss my non-belief with that I did committed non-Christians.
No - Christians no longer burn non-believers, but you might have read about the long-term rape of children here in Holy Ireland, carried out by clergymen and covered up (and even facilitated) by the church - that particular brand of persecution lasted for many decades, possibly centuries.
Or the Magdalene Laundries for "fallen women" which were slave driving sweat shops for girls unlucky enough to fall pregnant - the last of these closed in 1996.
Or the Homes for sinners, with their appalling punishments and mass graves.
Or the Church inspired pregnancy laws existing in Ireland which killed one woman the year before last - we are in the throes of another case at the present time where a 16 year old rape victim in danger of suicide was refused a pregnancy termination (despite theoretically being entitled to one), went on hunger strike, was force-hydrated to keep her and the foetus alive, then finally had to endure a Caesarian operation - not bad for a sixteen-year old.
The laws that should have given her access to an early termination were introduced recently following the death of a young mother who died having been refused a life saving operation "Because Ireland is a Catholic country".
None of this in any way adds up to beheadings - but it just goes to show what a church is capable of when it puts its mind to it.
Please don't tell me about religions which persecute - most do when they are allowed to.
Jim Carroll