that a person can identify as a member of any organization, religion, or other collection of people united in a common belief or common circumstance. But this personal identification does not mean that a particular individual "speaks for" the organization, nor does it mean that a particular individual's action are representative of the group.
Adolph Hitler self-identified as a Christian, Joseph Stalin as an atheist. I would not judge either Christians or atheists by the actions of either above-named lunatic.
When you speak of a religious entity, do you mean a religious figure, such as an Ayatollah, or the Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Pope, or a Rabbi, or do you speak of a collection of people with a social and/or political agenda who self-identify as belonging to or following a particular religion?
As to religions endorsing burning, Jeanne d'Arc was burned as a heretic by the English, many First Peoples in the Americas were burned as infidels, and the Spanish were quite fond of burning Jews, witches and other heretics. Would you indict the religions or the people who use religion to justify their actions?
and no, I cannot provide a standard as to what anyone would do. I can only speak for myself and I cannot even fathom why I did the many foolish things I have done.
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