Is Islam a "religion of peace"? To be honest I think that's a stupid question.

You look at any media source--a newspaper, the tv, the internet--and radicals from almost any religion pop up here and there, blowing up this or shooting that or protesting something. To question Islam as a peaceful religion doesn't make sense unless you question other ancient religions. In the Acts of the Apostles, God condones violence by smiting people left and right! Violence everywhere.

Surely Islam has some violent roots, but don't many religions? Christianity stems from violence, as does Judaism because they share the Old Testament/Torah. But a book doesn't make a religion. A group of people do. Belief systems cannot be held responsible for violent acts committed by religious people because it is merely an extreme interpretation of their sacred book that creates reason for violence. It's not the religion, or the book--it's the interpretation. 

Islam is not any more "violent" or "peaceful" than any other religion. Radical Islamists who interpret their religion as motive for violence do not represent the majority or the religion.