This is irrelevant. yendu bwam seemed to think that there were so many more Christians in the world than Athenians because of some kind of inherent truth to Christianity: Well, an awful lot of people seem strongly attracted (of their own free will) to Christ. I would infer that there is more truth (and more of value) residing there than with the Athenians.
I simply pointed out that the early growth of Christianity - just as impressive as the early growth of Islam 4 centuries later - was due to the coercive power of the State forcing it on the populace, just as with Islam, another pervasive religion. Do you disagree? Do you want to claim the rape of Hypathia never happened?
Nothing could more relevant. You made a bald assertion of fact: that Christians have committed these atrocities. You didn't say gnus had done these crimes. You didn't accuse Harvard professors. You said "Christians." Given the pride you demonstrate in thinking logically, presumably you were attempting to make a logical, sensible--even falsifiable--statement.
Are you using your own private definition?
Please define the term "Christian" and tell me where you got the definition.
If you cannot do this, I must conclude you don't know what you're talking about--that you are engaging in sloppy, nonsensical thinking.
Well, it's pretty amazing that a few powerless men could spread Christian ideas into the Roman world, and have the Roman emperor decree some years down the road that Christianity be the Roman religion (thus abnegating all Roman tradition and belief). JennyP, you are deluged in history. But today, few are coerced in their beliefs. Yet Christianity continues to grow (look at Africa, for instance). There must be something there that 1) is of great value to people; 2) stands the test of time; 3) is better than alternative ideas against which it is tested.