Well, like most religions, people lift from text/passages and then interpret them how they see fit. The challenge faced for most (including people within the faith) is if some
less flattering interpretations stick and then get passed on generation through generation by preachers/imams/family/friends and so on. There's also the case that at times the holy texts are very very very clear with what they state, and the best way around some of the passages is to chalk it up to that was how things were in those times. You can do a bit of brain gymnastics around "interpretations" to an extent, but other passages are just straight up black and white. It's best to be honest if they are, but state they are of times thousands of years ago. It's a bit eye-rolling when some try to claim "there's nothing bad in my book! everything is peace and love!". Ultimately, why do we
have to behave like our ancestors? If we're talking about things like slavery, rape, torture, etc.
Basically, looking for strict logic and reason isn't always the best way to ask why contradictions exist. It's to accept within a religious following there is going to be pockets of this and pockets of that. Some believing one thing, others believing another. Hypocrisy/contradictions and so on are going to be rife. There will be exemptions made in some instances, and then hard lines drawn in others. One moment a women can do something, the next she better damn well know her place. Corrupt men abuse power to control as well, which is why many dislike it when a religion gets political control of a whole country. It's routinely men doing all of the abuse, torture, raping, killing, oppressing and so on. That is no coincidence. As an offshoot of that comment on men in power, this is also why many are happy to see women being given chances as leaders of countries. Not just because it's equality of equal opportunity, but historically we've had years and years and years of men in power, many times with horrendous consequences. Especially when it's around religious political corruption leading to totalitarian/authoritarian male leaders absolutely abusing/killing/oppressing their own countries. Try electing a women leader in certain countries, let alone saying it should be allowed, and see how you get on...
When I was a bit younger I used to just want to beat people over the head with all the contradictions in the bible/amongst Christians, but as I've gotten older I've honed in the approach more to deal with certain specifics rather than really massively caring if someone literally believes in a talking snake. There's lots of "high fantasy" in religious texts that is pretty harmless if people want to believe. Although, as a person of science I
will challenge claims around the age of the earth and people denying evolution. So there are some things around supernatural claims that do have value in being challenged. Most of the stuff I really focus on now though is claims about social issues in humanity/morality and the treatment of other human beings. Often when religions step into those fields they can make a right mess of equality, humility and compassion. Followers themselves know this, as there often is millions of them standing alongside activists/commentators/public figures whether it's to support gay marriage or women's rights.
This is a great documentary to watch that crosses Christian reformers with those still refusing to accept the gay community ~
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912583/ Especially as it has Christian parents that had to come around to accepting their gay sons and daughters (with some sadness in some of the parents in the documentary having faced suicide as a consequence of homosexual rejection).
