Jordan: Court annuls Christian convert's marriage

“[T]he apostate has no creed”?? This is the first time I’ve seen it get quite that bad. You know how some Muslims say Christianity is Islam 2.0, and Islam is 3.0? (insert stream of self-censored foul language)

This misconception is widely spread to the extent that most people think it is an Islamic law. Quran teachings contradict with this notion; no one should be compelled to Islam. The misunderstanding is due to the fact that people had added lots of perceptions of their own. These perceptions have no bases from the Quran. According to Islamic law killing the apostate is a crime. Moreover, People who commit this crime should be punished!
Only by examining the Quran we achieve a proper understanding of Islam. Quran tells us which techniques to follow. These techniques were practiced by prophets, to bring people to faith. According to the Quran, prophets engaged in dialogues and debates with unbelievers. Prophets practiced patience and responded to arguments by showing evidences. This methodology clearly shows that prophets did not rely to any form of coercion. Their duty was to call people to Islam. People were free to respond or not respond to the invitation.

{But thy people reject this, though it is the truth. Say: “Not mine is the responsibility for arranging your affairs} (Al-An`am (Cattle)66)

{Say: O people! indeed there has come to you the truth from your Lord, therefore whoever goes aright, he goes aright only for the good of his own soul, and whoever goes astray, he goes astray only to the detriment of it, and I am not a custodian over you.} (Yunus (Jonah)108)

{But if they turn away, thy duty is only to preach the clear Message.} (82 An-Nahl (The Bee))

If the prophets were not allowed to force people to their faith, it is certainly that preachers are not entitled to force people.

{The guiding of them is not thy duty (O Muhammad), but Allah guides whom He will. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, it is for yourselves, when ye spend not save in search of Allah's Countenance; and whatsoever good thing ye spend, it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged} (272 Al Bazaar)

{O you who believe! Guard your own souls: If ye follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. The goal of you all is to Allah: it is He that will show you the truth of all that ye do.} (Al-Maida (The Table)105)

Quran clearly states the prophet's position namely; turn away from their opponents.

{Those men,-Allah knows what is in their hearts; so keep clear of them, but admonish them, and speak to them a word to reach their very souls.} ( Al Nisa 63)

{Therefore expound openly what thou art commanded, and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah.} (Al-Hijr (Habitation) 94)

The approach of judging people or accusing them of being allegedly infidels or legs or hypocrites or atheists, violates Islamic principles. Therefore; benchers should stick to being preachers, not judges. God is the only one who is entitled to judging people on the Day of Resurrection.

{If they do wrangle with thee, say, “Allah knows best what it is ye are doing.” “Allah will judge between you on the Day of Judgment concerning the matters in which ye differ.} (Pilgrimage 68-69)

{And in whatever thing you disagree, the judgment thereof is (in) Allah's (hand); that is Allah, my Lord, on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn time after time.} (Ash-Shura (Counsel) 10)

Even if the others were truly hypocrites, atheists, and apostate, or have written an offensive book about Islam, we are to respond by arguing with them in a nice way. They are for sure not worse than Pharaoh, whom God ordered Mussa and Haron to speak to him gently.

{Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds; Then speak to him a gentle word haply he may mind or fear.} (Taha 43-44)
This is the method of the prophets. To us, it is a curriculum to be followed.
Concerning the position of the apostate, we say:
1-Not in any verse that dealt with the subject of apostasy was the secular punishment mentioned as was the case of stealing and murder. Instead various verses talked about unworthy deeds in this life and the upcoming punishment on the afterlife. Almighty said:
{And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.} (Cow 217)
2-Freedom of belief is emphasized by Quran in many verses
{Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah hearth and knoweth all things}. (256 Al Baqarah)

The view of killing apostate came from prophetic saying (kill any one that changes his religion). There are two approaches to deal with this saying:
First: either we consider this saying as fabricated due to the following reasons:
1 – When the prophetic saying (Hadeath) contradicts with the Quran, this provides an evidence that the Hadeath is falsely attributed to the Messenger of Allah
2 – Hadeath narrated by one person are not valid when it comes to the rulings of the belief.
3 – Under no circumstances Hadeath does abrogates Quran.
4 – Punishments in Islam should not be based on Hadeath narrated by single person.
5 – When the prophetic saying contradicts with the prophet actions, this provides evidence that the Hadeath is falsely attributed to the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet did not kill any apostate just for apostasy.
Second: If we are to consider this saying as authentic then we need to think that the prophet did not mean any apostate but he meant warrior apostate.

{If any one killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or to spread mischief in the land it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind}

Warrior apostate is spreading corruption in the earth, attacking and killing people he is not to be compared with apostate who does not believe. Killing the later is a crime equivalent to murdering all the people.
The war of apostasy launched by prophet companions was based on political issue rather than a religious one. For this reason, none of the scholars used these wars to support the claim of killing apostate.
Almighty said:

{And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers?} (Younis 9)

Like any other religion, you can find quotes you can take out of context to support your point of view. The problem with Islam is that it claims divine inspiration from unknown entities around 1400 years ago that are no more supportable than any other's claims for divine inspriation or guidance. So your “Holy Book” is no more holy than any others, and if anything, is more suspect, considering how Mohammed himself relates the story of how he was painfully forced to learn the Quran. So your quotes are from a questionable source and only carry weight with those that choose to believe them as you do, and you do have that choice. I choose to believe the results of the books teachings such as those contained in this article, and the many other similar articles on this site. Actions speak louder than words, and the actions of many Muslims put the lie to your quotes. It's only yourself you're deluding.