Religion of peace?

Sir: Chris Ashton (“It’s the religion, stupid”, 18 June 2016) refers to Christianity’s “relative peacefulness, especially today”.

“Especially today” is indeed a significant caveat. Until recently (in terms of the religion’s 2000-year history) Christianity’s interactions with Jewish people consisted largely of persecution, forced conversions, pogroms and, often, execution. A religion which has been violent towards non-believers for many centuries is not necessarily in a position to lecture others about the evils of their practices.