The Spanish Inquisition was an interesting mix of force and religion. What is happening in Occupied Palestine is another example.

Religion that preaches love and caring and no killing seems to have trouble following its basic precepts.

Humans may be the problem. Their genes belong to a more primitive period in their evolution.

They will destroy themselves in the near future, you mark my words!

No great loss.

Religion is the scourge of nearly all people on earth, when o when will people wake up to the fact that what they are following is nothing but complete rubbish. Wars and suffering have all been fought and still being fought over the one thing that there is a God or something similar that is the right God in their mind, if we look at Germany , 2nd world war,the majority of people were of the same religion and praying to the same God as say the British, both wanting "him" to answer their prayers, Britain won, Germany lost, so where was the same God of the Germans, unfortunately as children the religion of the parents will prevail, and so in the coming centuries nothing will change the violence scenario. There are also many other factors in a cruel world, wealth , power and poverty.
When will we learn

We will never learn, Onjab! We've had 10,000 years to get it right and nothing has changed. We are still invading and occupying just like the primitive barbarians did.

The irony is that we claim we are intelligent!

"While Christianity has often and long been involved in violence and threats, on the other hand, Christians have often and long stood against it too. "

As have many non-christians, as usual missing the point. Christianity as with most religions was born with violence and slaughter and continued on that way, usually motivated by improving or keeping its position of authority. The difference is that people shouldn't need any religion to convince them slaughter is wrong, that is simply decent morality.
It's the usual rub, in how many cases has non-religion specifically been used to advocate violence as opposed to religion? Secular morality should allow people to make free judgement as to murder and pillaging, however some people will be driven to do evil things, whether motivated by religion or other reasons.

Thanks Ludwig.

Matt
"Christianity as with most religions was born with violence and slaughter and continued on that way, usually motivated by improving or keeping its position of authority."

No it wasn't. The first 100 years the church had not separated out from the synagogue, and the early Christians weren't in a position to exercise authority backed by violence and slaughter. It wasn't until it was legalised in the 300s that it became backed with violence and slaughter.

" The difference is that people shouldn't need any religion to convince them slaughter is wrong, that is simply decent morality."

Yes. And exactly the same applies to the violence of the state.

"It's the usual rub, in how many cases has non-religion specifically been used to advocate violence as opposed to religion?"

By far the greatest violence has been done by the modern secular State, the democracies among them - much more than was ever done in the name of religion.

"By far the greatest violence has been done by the modern secular State, the democracies among them - much more than was ever done in the name of religion."

Done "BY" the modern secular state, I thought we were talking about motivation? Can give me some examples where non-religion was the inspiration for the widespread violence and murder that religion has been (or much more as you claim)? I'm talking about people specifically killing to spread and propagate non-religion. Communists don't kill in the name of atheism, and calling yourself a secular state doesn't make you one.

"Yes. And exactly the same applies to the violence of the state. "
Absolutely, but then why hold up religion (specifically christianity) as if it is some harbinger of peace, when clearly it isn't. There are christians who advocate for peace, just like there are christians who champion eternal torture in hellfire as a reasonable consequence of simply disbelieving them. Often, they can even do both at the same time, ironic right?

As for founded in violence, apologies that was probably the wrong wording, it would be more accurate to say the bible kicks off with slaughter and violence, and carries it through to conclusion. No doubt you can cherry pick some of jesus more gentle moments, but the themes are there and