I read the Qur'an a while ago and I remember reading that if anybody tries to stop you from practising Islam, you should kill them (can't remember exact wording). I remember thinking this must be the one line that extremists use to justify their actions.
I also believe that the Qur'an was written to scare people into Islam, to get the masses under control. While reading it I started thinking 'shit, I better start worshipping Allah or my afterlife is gonna be horrible!' After reading on, the intentions behind the Qu'ran became clear.
I do think Ramadan is a lovely idea though