[mikechops]

I'm not a student of either the bible or the Koran, but it seems likely to me that both sides can find evidence to support their positions. Hence, "The devil can quote scripture."

Religions can be looked at as memes competing in a darwinian fashion for followers. Religions that are too doctrinaire about how to behave towards non-believers, would be less likely to survive than those that allowed followers some wiggle room. If both a hard-line and a concilliatory approach can be justified from the scripture, followers can decide upon the most advantageous course depending upon the precise political factors they find themselves in.

It would appear that the two most successful world religions are both somewhat ambiguous as to how to regard non-believers.