"But when the followers of a religion start committing atrocities and use their religion as the reason, people are inevitably (and perhaps justifiably) going to judge the religion based on these followers."
In this case both are wrong: those who commit such atrocities and who base their judgment on them.
Unless we avoid judging by actions of some of the followers, all religions will be misjudged and avoided because bad followers and "negative representatives" are there in all religions. I suppose I don't need to give examples to make you agree with me, do I?
"But when the followers of a religion start committing atrocities and use their religion as the reason, people are inevitably (and perhaps justifiably) going to judge the religion based on these followers."
In this case both are wrong: those who commit such atrocities and who base their judgment on them.
Unless we avoid judging by actions of some of the followers, all religions will be misjudged and avoided because bad followers and "negative representatives" are there in all religions. I suppose I don't need to give examples to make you agree with me, do I?