Common sense dictates that what occured in the past in the Bible and the severity of punishment was law at that time, and to simply say we need to bring back stonings, burnings, etc. is idiotic. There's a whole bunch of stuff like this in the old testament, it is a matter of history and it is what happened.
The entire bible can be summed up in 2 commandments. Maybe you could guess what they are, maybe not, or more than likely maybe you don't care.
How about we do this: we shall hangeth a man and bind him, mouth and hands, and covereth his face, round about make a noose and shall snap his neck and waiteth until his feet stop kickething for stealing a horse.
or,
We shall tieth a man down to chair and zappeth electricity until his eyes poppeth out and extrudeth out of his skull until he is deadeth.
And on and on...
The old testament and it's teachings, 'eye for an eye', etc., and the history of man's wrong at that time and the way God dealt with his people is what it is. The old testament and it's history of God, man, Lucifer, angels, fallen angels, creation, wickedness, goodness, ... and the predictions and prophecy of the new testament is what a common Christian should be focusing on. Not how we can bring back old testament laws, and apply them today. The apparent contradictions between the old and new testament are just that, apparent. You can open up, take a verse, out of the old and then say, look, it says to kill a man for working on the sabbath. But open the new and says, no, you should forgive your neighbor 70 times 7. Turn the other cheek, Forgive, love.... etc. What would your God given conscience tell you to do? Is the bible contradicting itself? Of course not, you must look at the entire scope and the good and hope that comes from it.
The new testament. Why were there so many parables as a method of teaching? Hardened hearts? Like yourself?
Those seeing would see and those seeing not would see not.
I personally see the old testament as a history of man, evil and good and the way God dealt with wickedness, sin, etc. - and it's future prophecies.
This is certainly a view not just held by myself and myself alone.