Extrapolation of history and the proof of God

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One standard objection we often hear about Christianity: Christianity has committed a lot of atrocities in history and created some of the darkest periods in history, such as the Crusades and the Inquisitions. Therefore, people find it difficult to believe in the God of Christianity, preferring other options. There are two responses that people who raise this objections will take: either to choose not to believe in any religion (i.e. either agnosticism or atheism) or choose to believe in other religions which seem more tolerant (e.g. buddhism).

Let's face it. Christianity, or what people have done in history in the name of Christ, had hurt its credibility in the eyes of people. That cannot be denied. Crusades, Inquisition, Salem Witch Trials, anti-semitism etc. But I think by that alone, it is difficult for me to believe in any religion, be it Christianity or any other major world religions. Why? Take a look:

World War II: 72,000,000
World War I: 65,000,000 (includes death by Spanish flu)
Russian Civil War: 9,000,000
Napoleonic Wars: 6,500,000
Second Congo War: 5,400,000
Vietnam War: 5,000,000
Korean War: 3,500,000
Nazi Genocides: 11,000,000
Armenian Genocide: 1,500,000
Decossackisation: 500,000
Rwanda: 1,000,000
Sri Lanka: 100,000
Holodomor: 10,000,000
East Timor: 300,000
Cambodia: 3,000,000
Great Leap Forward: 43,000,000
USSR (under Stalin): 20,000,000

There are other conflicts and atrocities started by other worldviews, but you will realise that the ones with the highest casualities in this list are the ones caused by atheism. World War II was started in Europe and subsequently Asia via Hitler, who espoused Nietzche's nihilistic philosophy. Stalin and Mao, under the influence of Marxism, caused the death of millions through their search for utopia. Well... going by the earlier objection, I dun think there is much reason to believe in atheism too.

I have not personally met people who raise such objections, but philosophically, we need to recognise that such position is a bit untenable. True, Christians have to face up to this fact, but it doesn't mean anything to the Gospels. The leap in logic is simply too large and it does not take into consideration other facts.

Simply put it, what people have done in the name of Christianity merit an examination in how the Christian life is being lived but more importantly, what people have done in the name of other worldviews merit a serious consideration into the difference Christianity can make in this wretched world.

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