There is one issue I would like to address, having been brought up by some of my friends. No doubt several of you have seen hyprocracy and abusive things done by people, in the name of the church or Chrsitianity. Please fon't blame God or institutions. The blame belongs to our species and, as what FTG referred to, as our sinful nature. Even the most well-meaning, well-respected Christians have an inward battle or struggle. Even though some Christians appear to have their acts together - outwardly - they have an on-going battle with their sinful nature. Those people of faith, exercise their faith by continually reading the Bible, learning from other other Christians, and praying to God for forgiveness (confession) and turn away from their sin (repentance).
High profile people like Jim Bakker & Jimmy Swaggart, who have been an incredible embarrassment, eventually humbled themselves before God, asked forgiveness, and received it. They DID pay for the consequences of their sin, as ought be expected. I do not defend their respective sin that got them in trouble, but I DO commend them for turning to God to turn their lives around. That, at least, they have in common with the Christians who have the inner struggle, but don't do anything nearly as obviously heinous. But what about the rest of the people? Since they do not coose to come before God, their unbridled thought life and behavior goes unchecked. those people, in extreme cases, are your Hitlers, Idi Amins, Saddam Hussein, and Osama bin Laden. This isn't "religion". This is sinful nature, manifested in ruthless ambition, totally apart from putting one's faith in God. God isn't telling them to do anything. They are telling themselves to do their atrocities. God isn't the one to blame. Humans are.