Deadliest religion ever?

[SteveII]

I agree with your point, but would add that to claim a religion is deadly, you would have to look at the religious teachings themselves to make a determination. Do the teachings promote violence? If not, the religion is not 'deadly' and any deaths that may have occurred in it's name should be laid at the feet of the people committing them.

What if the persons understanding of the religion motivates them to commit violent acts?
For example, a radical sect of Islam where people interpret the past wars mentioned in the Qur'an and Islamic history as being applicable to today and are convinced that God will be pleased. 
Even if the majority of followers of a religion or common understanding of their views disagree with violent acts, there is still religious motivation in there. 
This could apply to many religions.
The Christian church (in the dark ages) killed many people who simply went against their teachings (including other Christians that had different understandings). Not Christianity you say? The mainstream church of the time held to these acts.

First, I think this only applies to Islam. Second, it can easily be construed the way the radical's interpret it and only an extra-koran argument of "that was then" gets us to the more peaceful sects. So, if a religious writing is unclear exactly when violence is called for, I fault the religious writing. 

There is a difference when a religious writing/teaching calls for violence under xyz conditions and the adherent made a mistake in the conditions versus a religions which never calls for violence and the adherent believes for reasons not contained in the writing/teachings that violence is called for. 

The mainstream church in the dark ages where not acting in accordance with the religions teachings. How then can you say Christianity killed anyone? People either had other motives or were mistaken. Christianities writings have been available from the beginning and could have been checked.