The other day I read, somewhat in amusement, that The Barna Group -- a California-based research firm, recently reported that 56 percent of atheists and agnostics think "radical Christianity" is just as threatening in the United States as "radical Islam." But as the thought of what this might mean soaked in, the amusement faded as I realized just how ridiculous such a statement is.

But I regress. Let's look at a little history on this study. The group reportedly looked into the beliefs of people of no faith and compared them to religious adults over a two-year period. What they found was startling. For instance, they found that the proportion of atheists and agnostics increases with each younger generation, making up 6 percent of the elders (61 and older); 9 percent of Boomers (ages 42-60); 14 percent of Busters (ages 23-41); and 19 percent of people between the ages of 19 and 22. In addition, the report found that people of no faith tend to be younger and more often are male and unmarried; they are unlikely to be registered to vote (78 percent as opposed to 89 percent of believers) and are also less likely to help a poor or homeless person (41 percent versus 62 percent of believers).

Now, back to the story at hand. How could anyone in his or her right mind believe that "radical Christianity" is as threatening to the United States as radical Islam?

When was the last time a devout Christian -- radical or not -- flew a commercial airliner into a pair of skyscrapers, killing nearly 3,000 people? When was the last time a devout Christian took a ceremonial sword and hacked off the head of an innocent news man while being videotaped for all the world to see? When was the last time a truly spiritual Christian built training camps for terrorists or strapped bombs to kids and women and sent them into crowded busses and markets in an effort to destroy as many innocent citizens as possible?

The answer is "never." It just hasn't happened.

I suppose the grey-suited left-wing legal gurus will start crying out that radical Christianity is a threat to the American way of life, that radical Christianity makes the United States a hostile place for atheists and agnostics, that radical Christianity is a blemish the soul of our nation.

To which I would say: Don't worry … Be Happy.

The truth of the matter is that most of the Christianity practiced in our nation these days is far from radical, far from the "no fear" form of faith that birthed this great nation, and farther still from the radical Christianity that birthed the church in the early part of the first century.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to sound cynical or irreverent, but if it's radical Christianity that atheists and agnostics fear, I'm afraid they're just shadow boxing.

But I do wonder, from time to time, what might happen if we did get radical; what might happen if we became all that we are called to be and all that Jesus paid the price for us to become.

That, my friends, would be something to take note of.