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MM - I like the way you think, and I usually find myself agreeing with you and being enlightened by your ideas, so I hope you'll accept one small idea from me:

It seems to me that Jesus was not interested in exclusivity in his teachings.

Sounds like a bit of PC there. Jesus was inclusive in many things, but downright close-minded in a few. In fact, reactionary, in that he insisted that people follow the basic rules as instructed by God. He wasn't very concerned about many of the process kind of issues, circumcision, offerings, mixed fabrics, Gentiles, etc., but he was very definite on the basics - the condition of our souls.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat." Matthew 7:13
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able." Luke 13:24

"It seems to me that Jesus was not interested in exclusivity in his teachings.

Sounds like a bit of PC there."

I think you may have understood what I meant. The way I see it is that Jesus laid out just a very few rules for becoming a Christian and gaining the salvation he was bringing. One was that you believed in your heart. The other was that you confessed with your mouth. That's what I mean be not being exclusive.

Of course, that's not all there is to it, and Jesus also laid out some pretty simple rules of how to live one's life. Knowing that nobody could live a perfect life, Jesus made it simple. One merely had to love God and fellow man with all one's heart. And...when one inevitably failed in this, Jesus would fill in the gaps through his death and resurrection.

The rest is just extension of the two commandments Jesus offered.

Unlike other religions, Christianity offered a simple approach to salvation, based on anonement for human frailty through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Mind you, I'm just laying out the basics, but...they're enough, all by themselves, according to the Gospels, for salvation.

That's what I mean by non-exclusivity. Follow the simple rules of belief and attempting as best as possible to follow those two simple commandments and you gain salvation.

From my understanding, this is the core of Christianity. Arguments about the literality of Genesis, or the endless arguments about grace and works, it all boils down to a couple of basics.

Those two commandments are sufficient, if actually followed, since all others derive from them. It is a marvel of inclusiveness and simplicity.

I hope these ramblings have made my earlier statement a little more clear.

In fact, reactionary, in that he insisted that people follow the basic rules as instructed by God.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat." Matthew 7:13
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able." Luke 13:24

I don't see how your premiss follows from the Scripture you've posted?