Originally Posted by towny

Christianity was instituted by Jesus of Nazareth, and a small group of his closest friends, a little under 2,000 years ago. What they said Christianity is, is what Christianity is.

The actions of a politically-motivated elite (namely the Roman church) over 1,000 years later do not demonstrate that Christianity advocates violence in pursuit of its aims. The Roman church has always been led by a Pope who claims to be God's mouthpiece on Earth and therefore what he says, is what the Christian God wants, thereby sidestepping the Bible's clear message on this point.