Foxy,
you're missing the point by so much that trying to get you to understand one would have more chance to win the lottery.

Josephus, in defense of what Foxy posted, and those bad Popes are a good example. I don't know to what extent they had read the Bible, its not that important. However given they were worshiping a different god to you, that's right, a different god, a vengeful, spiteful god, as at the time Christianity deemed god to be. At some later point Christians reinterpreted god, your god, as a kind forgiving loving god. Those bad Popes applied Christianity so as it reflected the god of the time. They believed as strongly as you do that they were applying Christian principles.
As for the teachings of Islam and the life of Mohammed, I like you are not qualified to that extent that we can argue the pros and cons of it all. Since I think the practices and beliefs of monotheistic religions are a load of rubbish in general, I wont debate that point.

Something Christians skip over as they attribute the practices of their religion to Christ, is the fact that nothing is known with any certainty at all about Jesus, or his life and beliefs. Some even doubt that he existed at all, and the Christ as we see him is a copulation of several "prophets" associated with a minority sect withinp Judaism at the time. Mohammed is a bit more concrete, but again his life is vague and somewhat mysterious as well.

There are strong links and similarities between Christianity and Islam, Muslims believe in Jesus as a prophet. In something I read, Muslims say it was the Christians of Abyssinia that saved Islam by giving the followers of Mohammed sanctuary in their kingdom when the Muslims were driven from Medina and threatened with destruction by the pagan tribes of Arabia.

Paul, Read the New Testament and the Koran and decide which are the values most benefit to a healthy society. There is billions who follow the Koran and billions who follow the New Testament.

You as an atheist might not agree with theism but the major part of human population follows to some degree one of these books, taught by Imams, Priests or Pastors. I suggest to be informed you attend a large Mosque, a Cathedral and Church.

Joesphus, why have you jettisoned the Old Testament, is that because it contains much of the nasty stuff associated with Christianity. I am familiar with Christianity, having read the Bible, I still possess a copy, and had a Catholic education.
I have little interest in Islam, I much prefer Buddhism as an alternative to any of those monotheistic religions.

Paul, Christianity is based in the teachings and life of Christ and encompasses every individuals need of forgiveness, cleansing and fullness of life. The Old Testament refers to a nation and its politics written over 2,000 years; Islam is a merchants impressionist view of the Old Testament written‎ after 583–609 by one Arab who became a warmonger.

If you are to become balanced informed read the Koran.

Dear Josephus and Indy,

It's not me who's missing the point.

The following link is worth a read:

http://charterforcompassion.org/karen-armstrong-there-is-nothing-in-the-islam-that-is-more-violent-than-christianity