How would you compare the opinions of Uncle Axel and Joseph Strorm on mutants in The Chrysalids?

Joseph Strorm believes that mutants are an insult to God and must be eliminated, but Uncle Axel believes they are just humans and deserve support.

Joseph Strorm is a religious extremist. He believes that it is his function to protect the people of Waknuk from violations of the True Image. He will not even look the other way for members of his own family. He is a brutal and harsh leader and father. His house is decorated with symbols of his intolerance.

The one on the left of the fireplace read: ONLY THE IMAGE OF GOD IS MAN. The one on the right: KEEP PURE THE STOCK OF THE LORD. On the opposite wall two more said: BLESSED IS THE NORM, and IN PURITY OUR SALVATION. The largest was the one on the back wall, hung to face the door which led to the yard. It reminded everyone who came in: WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! (Ch. 2)

He gets extremely upset, for example, when David makes an offhand comment about wanting another hand. If Strorm knew that his son was a telepath, there is no doubt that he would turn him in like he did his wife’s sister’s baby. David knows this, and that is why he doesn’t tell his father, or anyone, about his friend Sophie with her extra toes. When his father does find out he is hiding a mutant, he beats the truth out of him.

David says that Uncle Axel is “not a real relative” because he is an in-law. He calls the man his best friend. Unlike most of David’s other relatives, he is not harsh or hypercritical. David says he is lucky that Axel and only Axel found out about his telepathic abilities. He makes David promise to be more careful.

"I want you to keep it secret. I want you to promise that you will never, never tell anyone else what you have just told me — never. It's very important: later on you'll understand better how important it is. You mustn't do anything that would even let anyone guess about it. Will you promise me that?" (Ch. 4)

Axel can’t protect David for long, however. When he and the others are found out, his father behaves predictably. They have to go on the run, and end up in the wilds known as the Fringes. There we meet another relative of David’s, his father’s brother, also cast out. He is the leader of the mutants.