Christianity and Islam both have verses many verses the justify violence and some verses that call for peace. Despite this the magnitude of Christian terrorism in the modern world is simply not on the same scale as Islamic terrorism. This is due some complex factors in the development of the Middle East and the Western World, as well as the economic status of the nations involved (3rd world Christian African countries commit similar atrocities).
But once again, they are not nearly on the same scale. There have been around 8 murders relating to Anti-Abortion violence in the United States since the 1990s, whereas there have been 1600 people killed in Jihadi attacks just
this month alone.
Also, perspectives of Americans towards LGBT rights and perspectives of Muslims in the Middle East and Africa are still significantly different. In the United States, gay marriage has been legalized on a federal level. The majority of LGBT people don't even have the right to
exist yet in some of these countries, and face a population where well over 80% of people would rather see them gone, as well as actually have a government that is sanctioned to publicly execute or imprison them. The majority of Americans approve of homosexuality (
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-lands ... sexuality/) and gay marriage.
Jerks exist in all religions, that is true, but
in the modern world there is a massive difference of scale that cannot be ignored.
These are statistics from just the past few days...
I'm open to criticize
any organization or religion that sanctions violence and commits it. If I was me in the 16th century Western Hemisphere, I'd be up in arms over forced conversion systems like the Enconmienda and the genocide of Amerindians. I certainly wouldn't say that the Europeans were justified because of the fact that nearly all cultures and peoples have committed atrocities. Just as now, widespread Islamic terrorism shouldn't be whitewashed or swept under the rug because Christians have had their own history. We are able to simultaneously recognize that nearly all religions have had their violent histories, and that Christianity was once at the peak of this, but that Islam is now at the peak of theirs.
To clarify, I don't believe that all borders should be closed. I advocate for moderate immigration policy. I also think that it is important for us normal citizens not be fearful after attacks like the one in Paris on Friday, but to be defiant in celebrating our own values.
"
They have weapons. Screw them! We have champagne."