The Koran actually isn't so contradictory when you consider the manner in which it was created. The surahs (chapters) aren't in chronological order; on your source site, they're arranged in order of length, except for the opening (naturally). When put in chronological order, the more peaceful and tolerant passages will be found in the earlier sections. This corresponds to the time during which Mohammed was weak, with few followers and at the mercy of the other various factions around him. He had to avoid ruffling feathers. The
jihad begins later, once Mohammed had enough weight (in terms of followers) to start throwing it around. As Mohammed's power grew, his restraint weakened; he went from preaching religious tolerance to condemning other religions (particularly Jews, whom Allah cursed to be "pigs and monkeys") to slavery or death, followed by hellfire.
The problem lies in the fact that the earlier chronological sections of the Koran are abrogated by the later sections. If two of Allah's commands are contradictory, the most recently revealed one takes control. Thus, peace and tolerance are cast aside in favor of holy war by the
true believers.
Edited to add:
In fact, that quote you mentioned about the alcohol gives a good example to this. The following is a sequence of commands about alcohol, in chronological order.
Quote:
016.067
YUSUFALI: And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise.
PICKTHAL: And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who have sense.
SHAKIR: And of the fruits of the palms and the grapes-- you obtain from them intoxication and goodly provision; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who ponder.
002.219
YUSUFALI: They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider-
PICKTHAL: They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: that which is superfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect.
SHAKIR: They ask you about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit. And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, that you may ponder
004.043
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! do not go near prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say, nor when you are under an obligation to perform a bath-- unless (you are) travelling on the road-- until you have washed yourselves; and if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.
005.090
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an uncleanness, the Shaitan's work; shun it therefore that you may be successful.
First OK, then sinful, then partially prohibited, then banned. As his power to command his followers grew, so did his use of that power.
Quote:
There is not point in this argument anyway, if a Moslem is nice to me I couldn't give a flying fuck whether or not their religion dictates they should strangle me with my own entrails.
I never said that Muslims couldn't be good people. But can you dispute that Islam, if followed as Mohammed (conquerer that he was) intended it, provides the basis for conquest and oppression?