Chapter 18 & 19: Rethinking the Inquisition & License to Kill

I am writing about both these chapters together because they cover much of the same information.

Chapter 18

To start off, D'Souza argues that the atrocities ascribed to religion by opponents are either revisionist or grossly over-exaggerated. Taking the example of the Crusades, D'Souza argues that the West was defending itself from Islam's self-proclaimed mandate to conquer Europe. Therefore, much of the violence on the Christian side could be considered as military action that was not supported by religion, but by self-defense. On the Muslim side, it was a sort of manifest destiny to conquer Europe, not from religious prejudice against Christians. Much of the pillaging by Christians were done in order for them to survive while fighting back Islam from taking over Europe. In the case of the Salem witch trials, less than 25 people were killed. This number, while sad, certain does not measure up to a great massacre when compared to the likes of Pol Pot or Mao.

Chapter 19

Putting the proverbial shoe on the other foot, D'Souza examines the atrocities done against mankind by atheistic motives. First pointing out that Mao and Stalin killed collectively 90 million people, which made Hitler's number look paltry at 10 million, D'Souza points out that if Christianity should be held responsible for those who claim to be Christian and commit massive killings, then so should atheism. However, if this argument causes the tenacious atheist to simply say that atheism does not logical lead to these kinds of catastrophes, one only need to cite Dostoevsky to point out that Christ himself would not be aligned with the atrocities committed in the name of Christianity.