No institution that has influence over peoples lives should be above mockery, the trouble is most religious fruitcakes put so much credence into a couple of ancient books (which arent very good anyway) that they have a total humour-ectomy which leads them to shout Jihad, or vote republican at any minor transgression. To sum up and to resolve the entire religious debacle once and for all;
-Most religions believe God made man in his own image
-Men are apethetic, ergo God doesnt give a shit
And even if God did give a rats ass about some poorly drawn charicatures, I think he'd be plenty powerful enough to do his own smiting, and you know he'd smite well. Im fairly sure one of the main 'lessons' in the bible or Quran and other religious texts, aside from all the violence and plauges, is to rise above all this shit and just be nice, Burning down danish embassies because one of their newspapers printed something you dont like doesnt seem to be following the spirit of the religion, besides what have the danes ever done to anyone? (aside from all that raping and pillaging in the 10th century, but we've pretty much forgiven them for that) Essentially however I think this issue just got pounced on by extremist idiots to give them an excuse to make strife, sadly this will just further increase tensions between cultures, and will allow our governments to pass even more draconian laws that curtail our liberties and freedom of speech. No matter whether the intentions are for good, once you go down the road of stopping people saying what they want regardless of whether you find it hurtful, or even distasteful or offensive, the end result will be a poorer society for everyone.

"Look I'd had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was, 'That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.' "