I can't claim to know what is inside someone's mind. However, I think for some people, it is more important to keep one foot in the door and be seen as "Muslim", even if only by a small minority of "Muslims", than to leave the herd completely. Some progressive types (not Manji, Jasser or anyone else mentioned here as I don't know them personally, but others with whom I have spoken) privately support the right of people to apostatize, and some may even be agnostic or atheistic themselves, but won't say so in public because they either see it as a "cultural" identity or because they are afraid of the backlash or because they hang on to the faith even if only in vague and unorthodox ways.
We need to be thoughtful when ascribing on to people identities and qualities they have not claimed for themselves. As far as I know, Manji, Jasser etc. are all actually believing Muslims. I have no reason to doubt their word on what they are. Even if I disagree with them on theological/philosophical issues, I think they have the right to identify as Muslims even if they're not following traditional, orthodox Islam. I wish these progressive types well, and I tend to support their efforts, even when they don't / won't openly support people like me.
So you can be completely unorthadox, like that bikini model in TDR's thread, but there is a line, for example denying the shahada, you cannot be Muslim and do that. Even regarding being gay, I remember on a shia site (I think bayynat.org) I read that being secretly gay is fine, just cannot come out with it.
With Jasser though, by calling hell a metaphor, he crosses the line of Islam because the rules are to believe in Allah, his books, messengers, angels, fate and judgement day. It's not interpretation anymore, like being progressive, but denying the fundamental tenets that overrule the sects.
THE SEVEN BASIC BELIEFS
There are seven basic beliefs in Islam. They are:
1. Allah
2. Angels of Allah (Mala’ikah)
3. Books of Allah (Kutubullah)
4. Messengers of Allah (Rusulullah)
5. The Day of Judgement (Yawmuddin)
6. Pre-destination or Supremacy of Divine Will (Al-Qadr)
7. Life after death (Akhirah)
These beliefs have been declared in Al-Imanul Mufassal (the statement of faith), which is as follows:
"Amantu Billahi, wa Mala’ikatihi, wa Kutubihi, wa Rusulihi, wal Yawmil Akhiri, wal Qadri Khairihi wa Sharrihi Minal Lahi Ta’ala, wal Ba’thi Ba’dal Mawt."
Meaning: "I believe in Allah, in His angels, in His books, in His messengers, in the Last Day (Day of Judgement) and in the fact that everything good or bad is decided by Allah, the Almighty, and in the Life after Death."
http://al-tawbah.faithweb.com/beliefsofislam.htmThis is his quote saying reform Islam will discard what "radical Muslims" believe about hell, which is a irrelevant scare tactic according to him:
"These are just metaphors to have Muslims believe that god judges us, that this eschatology that we are discussing has some type of relevance but it's not our relevance...this is god's decision and anybody that interferes becomes god and that it forbidden. "
The quote starts at 6:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7e-NGM6Jms
Topic: Muslims Against Homophobia