Wow. There are some good critical thinkers, still here. Well stated. Thank you, Talisker.
Thank you back, but all I offer is a personal opinion. To each their own, I say.
However when I see millions of people square of against each other for hundreds of years over the teachings of Christ, it makes me go “hmmmm.” Each side has rock-solid points that seem to contradict the other. Yet I do not believe Jesus contradicted Himself - nor do I believe that millions of Catholics or Protestants are driven by evil.
So it’s a puzzle. One solution is that Jesus taught on multiple levels for different types of people about similar issues. He admitted as much when He told His disciples that he would speak plainly to them what he told others in parables. So two or more interpretations of the same teaching, as long as they hold deeper commonalities with, for example, what Jesus called His “greatest commandment,” seem allowable.
Another solution is to very carefully examine the meaning of words - like “good works,” for example. It often leads to deeper insights. And of course, Jesus went deep.
I believe wrongful Christian schisms have been exploited by evil to turn people against God. Any effort to heal these schisms - without sacrificing truth - is worth the time and energy.