OK let me put my $.02 in.
First off when the bible was written, it during the time of Constantine.
He had a mother who was pagan, but what changed his ways was that he had won a battle after he had a vision of a cross. After that, he called together many priests to interpret the scrolls that were found to create what we call the bible today, however he dictated which books would go into it. There are other books and letters that are not included in the bible, so how are we to say that the bible is the word considering it was interpreted by man and made by man.
That being said, early judeo-christian beliefs indeed followed with this in mind:
"The foregoing principles lead us to a criterion through which religions may be judged. Too much religion, especially theistic religion, is characterized by intolerance based upon belief. The message is: Believe what I believe, or God will reject you and throw you out of the kingdom. Such religion is contrary to love, and therefore denies the goodness that is God’s essence.
There is only one simple criterion by which any religion may be judged: does it lead its adherents in the direction of non-self-interested love? If it does, then it should be respected. If it does not, then there is a better way. Doctrinal distinctions are secondary, and of no importance when the time comes for us to account for how we have stewarded the resources with which God has entrusted and blessed us.
Any religion that encourages intolerance, that sets itself up as the only way to salvation, that preaches God’s rejection of those who believe differently regardless of their hearts and deeds, does not have the true spirit of love and cannot be a true path."
ref:
http://www.judeochristianity.org/judeochristianity_principles.htm
It can be said that as all denominations cover such a wide range of beliefs that it is obvious that many people can call themselves a Christian because they're bound to share some beliefs with some denominations. But, merely knowing that they call themselves a Christian gives us very little actual information about their beliefs, as Christianity is such a diverse religion.
If you go back far enough, Christian history is actually pagan history.
"Elements common to all types of the Christian religion that were common in previous Pagan mystery religions include much of the religious content of Christianity. All elements of Jesus' life such as the events around his birth, death and ministry were already parts of the myths surrounding other god-men of the time. Peripheral elements such as there being twelve disciples were similarly present in other more ancient religions and sometimes with an astonishing amount of duplication. First century critics of Christianity voiced accusations that Christianity was nothing but another copy of common religions."
ref: http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity_historical.html
Who are we to judge someone calls themselves a Christian Witch based upon what I referenced above?
Here is something else to think on:
In the Greco-Roman world, from where Christianity later flourished, the most dominant cult (1000 BC) of a savior nailed upon a crucifix was that also of the pagan fertility god Osiris-Dionysus who suffered persecution, died, and then rose again from the dead. Only was it until the late 5th century that genuine portrayals of Jesus on a crucifix were found, as before this time however, artifacts had all but depicted Jesus as the fish, or as the shepherd, but never on a Cross.
