Some wise words read somewhere on Usenet:

‘It is not true that the Koran says, explicitly or otherwise, that apostasy is punishable by death. In fact the Qur’an says “There is no compulsion in matters of religion”. It is indeed true that the Muslim common law, called the Shari’ah, says that apostacy is a capital crime, but that is not the only way that the Shari’ah contradicts the Qur’an.

Moreover Christians need to understand that Islam can be lived with. “Hannah”s father is a disgrace to the human race, but his like can be found in court today in Austria. He is not a typical Muslim – even if his community supports him. We haven’t heard the whole story.

Honor killing is endemic among Muslims of Middle Eastern origin. But it is not a characteristic of Islam. It is a pathology of Islam. Christianity has had it’s pathologies – to avoid starting any fresh arguments, for example, burning witches.

On the whole though, Christians have been doing a good job of eradicating pathologies. Of course, we have our little differences about what is a pathology and what isn’t. I tend to view opposition to gay marriage as pathological – but not everybody agrees with me.

You could compare honor killing with gay marriage (for or against – take your choice). The Muslim version is more fatal but otherwise these are the same kind of thing. Not of the religion but forced on top it. We would be better off without them.

It is important not to demonize Islam.’