A question of apostasy?

Question

From the Islamic hadiths:
"Kill whoever changes his religion" (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, book 84, number 57, narrated via Ibn Abbas)

"The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, book 83, number 17, narrated via Abdullah)

(above from Wikipedia)

I've never really known enough Muslims well enough to talk and/or debate the Quran and hadiths with authority. While I realize that a great many Muslims take the above hadiths quite literaly (look at the backlash surrounding Abdul Rahman), I've never understood the justification. Can anyone explain the justification, preferably related to other parts of the Quran or hadiths?

Answer 1

Quran says,

There is no compulsion in the religion; Truth stands out clear from error; so whoso disbelieves in idols and believes in God, has laid hold of the most firm handle, which cannot break; and God is Hearing, Knowing.
Al-Quran (2:256)

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said that If any of my hadiths contradicts with Quran, you should leave that. and follow Quran.

Answer 2

Most predominantly Muslim countries do not have freedom of religion and fear keeps people from converting to other religions - at the very least the fear of shunning by family and relatives and friends if not very real threats and murders.

God is working on this it seems.