Hello Father Echert. I had just finished reading a posting with the same title, I believe it was posted around the May 8th. I just recently did my first communion and did my confirmation through RCIA on the Easter Vigil. Well, anyways even though I agree that Christianity and more specifically the Catholic Church is a revelation from God I would disagree that only Islam resorts to violence. You said, "Against all odds, without the use of violence, Christianity spread by grace and the Gospel; Islam, on the other hand, quickly resorts to violence and a demand for submission." I just want to know what you meant by this? Not to sound rude or offense in any way, I feel as you forgot the centuries of violence, death, and other things Christianity has done. For example, the spreading of Catholicisim to the Americas, witch hunting, the Spanish Inquistion, and etc. Thank you for your clarification and God Bless.

~Ely

The spread of the Apostolic Church was not done by violence but by the power of the Holy Spirit, through preaching, teaching, miracles and signs all assisted by grace. That does not preclude subsequent periods in history and places in which force was used but not as the fundamental force in the first decades and centuries of Christianity. Islam, on the other hand, was extremely violent from the start, to include execution of any pagans who refused to convert, starting with the first decades of its existence and with its founder.

Thanks, Ely

Father Echert

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