If you're going to tar all of Islam by their worst members ("the latter literally convinving people to convert by sword"), you can't object if someone applies the same logic to Christianity.

> Christianity vs Catholicism

Catholics aren't Christian? Sounds exactly like some of evangelical nuts I grew up around. Most of the world views Christianity as a big umbrella, with Catholics and Protestants being two of the major flavors. (Somehow I highly doubt you're Eastern Orthodox.)

> your average non-religious person does not understand the difference between religions

And apparently, neither do you, my evangelical wingnut in Christ.