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Blaming the Crusades on a few 'corrupt popes' is an overly simplistic view of the driving forces behind them. The fact is, there have been many many wars fought in the name of Christianity over the last two thousand years, since the Emperor Constantine used the cross as his symbol. Lets see, we have the Christian persecutions of pagans in the later Roman empire, the conquests of the pagan Prussians by the Teutonic Knights, the pogroms against Jews during the Black Death, the reconquista and forcable expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain, the witchhunts throughout Europe and early America, the conquistadors in Mexico and Peru, I could go on. And don't think its just an ancient, outdated phenomenon either. Think about the abortion doctors and homosexuals murdered by radical Christians. And you don't think all the happy families who picnicked at lynchings in the early 20th century didn't consider themselves the best of the god-fearing folk, do you?
Given the right circumstances, any religion and any ideology can be twisted and warped into something monstrous.
Firstly, terrorism isn't part of Islam. It doesn't matter how many terror schools brainwash their followers into thinking it is, it still isn't. And the people who think it is, are always going to be far, far outnumbered by Muslims who are essentially good people caught in a very bad place. By blaming the actions of extremists on the religion as a whole, you're doing what the terrorists want, upping the ante and turning it into what it isn't now and shouldn't ever be: a religious war.
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"Look, I'm pretty relaxed for a guy who just lost money on a rave. And who's currently speeding down the highway drunk off my tits. And I'm being chased by someone in a blue Corolla. Woohoo! I just ran a red light!"
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