" there will be some fringe groups in the organization who will use violence in some way as an expression of their faith."

...but what if the gentler, pacifist end of the spectrum IS the 'fringe group'?..The other end of the spectrum certainly considers that to be true. Lacking any daily confirmation from a Supreme Being..(clouds forming "STOP THAT!" in big letters, or a thunderous voice proclaiming.."THIS group are wimps!")...how do we know what form of 'confirming the faith' the diety(s) prefer?

Many ponderous tomes have been penned analyzing and dissecting the "rules", but we still have 17,421 varieties of opinion. (17,422..the Zen Snake Handlers were just registered in Idaho yesterday).

Perhaps you are familar with Pascals Wager, in which he argues that it is more prudent to believe than not, as you lose nothing if you do, but risk eternal fire if you don't.

Nice idea, but one philosopher, Walter Kaufmann, pointed out that Pascal simply didn't think to list other possibilities. What if there is a Supreme Being with a strange sense of humor? What if HE doesn't LIKE being comsumed at mass? What if he TRULY gave us free will, and does not care what we do? What if.........

The point is, Pentacostal Snake Handlers believe in what they are doing, as do chain-wielding Muslims and street corner preachers. And have you ever been accosted by Jews for Jesus? I have. Or told that Heaven DOES exist, but that, like a gated community, there is a limited amount of space?

Well...all that being said, I do fret about the louder, more pugnacious displays of 'faith', but I suspect that they are merely manifestations of human nature (read "Testosterone")in a religious setting....but of course, I can't prove my suspicion, any more than a bleeding Muslim with a flail, or a bleeding Catholic who has had himself crucified to demonstrate his faith.....

...it just goes on, and on, and on.....with everyone proclaiming, "God is on our side!"

I do like the poster which proclaims, "Lord, please protect me from your followers"