For Those Who DON'T believe in God:

[PaulSacramento]

Every ideology can lead people to do horrific things.
Religious people have done horrific things.
Non-religious people have done horrific things.
The common element: People.

For Christians, those that did/do horrific things CAN NOT use religion as a reason/excuse because those horrific things are done IN SPITE of what Christ taught and NOT because of it.
As a matter of fact, Christianity has explicit statements against the very horrific things that were done "in it's name".

[Philip]

Paul: For Christians, those that did/do horrific things CAN NOT use religion as a reason/excuse because those horrific things are done IN SPITE of what Christ taught and NOT because of it. As a matter of fact, Christianity has explicit statements against the very horrific things that were done "in it's name".

Exactly, because Christ taught to love ALL people as one loves themselves - and to treat others as they would like to be treated. So anyone doing or saying terrible, hurtful things will do so in exact opposition to what Christ's instruction to those who follow Him. BTW, this is very different from Islam, which has many passages of hatred toward those who do not believe in Allah. So you will find no one OBEYING Christ doing atrocities or harming others.

Also, one must distinguish between people merely CALLING themselves a Christian and those who actually ARE a Christian, submitted and committed to Jesus and striving to obey Him. Many people who call themselves Christians are merely cultural ones or self-identify as one - but that doesn't mean they actually are one.

Note as well that the Bible actually teaches RELIGION - that is, all faith beliefs that teach practices other than what the Bible teaches - is a terrible thing that does lead to all kinds of terrible things. Religion is all man-made superstitions and garbage - and I will be the first to tell someone, I absolutely hate religion!