You can read those books metaphorically but to try to apply those laws and the associated punishment to modern civilization is ridiculous.

Agreed, but the problem is that many extremist Muslims are taking them literally. Western Civilization updated and modernised Christianity so as to cope and adapt to the new world, and freedoms in the new world.

Islam, is however regressing, or at least static. Muslim nationes still infringe on the basic of human rights, take for instance the rights of women, who are forced to be veiled, are not permitted an education, are not even allowed the vote.Women are stoned for adultery, etc, or for not covering their body's or faces accordingly. This all takes place in Iran for instance.