Hi Stile
It seems to me that either book can and has been used to promote violence. Atheistic principles have been used to promote violence. People who want to commit violence will hang their hat on anything to justify their actions.
Interestingly enough I recently read the book
Infidel and was disturbed by the misogyny that seemed so ingrained in her Islamic culture.
I have spent quite a bit of time recently with a Syrian Islamic family of 9 that our church sponsored so that they could emigrate to Canada. First off, they are the only one on the street with a Canadian flag out front. The kids are respectful in a very positive way and they are really happy kids. They laugh really easily and they are always smiling.
The father who is 41 is very respectful of his mother, wife and sister who are all part of the group. He was a mechanic in Syria and my wife's car needed some work so he volunteered to do it. When he had finished I tried to pay him and he refused the money. He said that we had given his children a future.
The contrast between the book and this family is markedly different. The adult male dominated world of the Islamic world as portrayed in the book just does not square in any way with my experience with this family. Canada is so fortunate to have them.
The point again is that if we look for reasons to commit atrocities we will easily find them. I also think in the majority of cases it is more culture driven than anything else and of course religion is part of the culture. For example, I've mentioned in other threads that I see fundamentalist Christianity in the US as being actually a blend of Christianity, nationalism and politics.
So yes, there is violence attributed to the deities in both the Bible and the Quran, but there is also the message of love. Actually, ultimately I suggest that the OT quote that I use for my signature sums the whole thing up nicely.
Sorry, I know this is a very rambling post but hopefully mostly on topic.
He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8