Religions or sects should always be looked at with critical eyes, because it is easy to defraud people with things that cannot be proven. Religions should be separated from the State. Only secular societies ruled according to the principles of laicity can provide people - children in particular - with an education based on respect and freedom. Religious teachings that lead to the mystification or sacralization of God must be rejected to avoid irrational behavior or fanatism, as nothing can justify the sacrifice of human life or individuality - certainly not a promise or a ticket to paradize. Life is more precious than anything else.

While religious writings must be investigated, their study must be comparative, scientific.

Pope Benedict XVI's reference in September 2006 to a 14th century Christian emperor, who characterized Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman", was correct, because the issue of violence and Islam must be addressed. But there is no point at blaming one religion without mentioning controversies linked to other religions as well. Profiling a religion as violent, caricaturizing a prophet or parodying a religion does not deepen our understanding of religions in general unless it is done in a comparative manner. It would certainly have been a major scoop, and indeed a major contribution to progress, if the Pope had put the Bible and Jesus into question, at least in the way it was written, when he correlated Islam and violence.

The bottom line is, we cannot communicate and understand each other, if we are not ready to question what we are and what we believe in. And so, we cannot pretend a religion is about peace, and not accept criticism about that same religion. Meanwhile, criticism must be scientific and with due respect for those who believe in the religions in question. Please, see here for more detailed limitations on the Freedom of Expression and Religion.