Fighting Between Denominations is Stupid Part II - The argument itself undermines its own purpose

So to continue the theme of part I, my younger self was quite surprised to learn that there were Christians of different groups fighting each other.  Not usually as aggressively as what had been going on in Northern Ireland, but it was none too polite in many cases as well.

Now, living in Maryland you don't get a lot of grief for being Catholic.  After all, Maryland was originally founded as a Catholic colony so it's prettymuch a part of the state's history.  

And then... well, when I was 24...  I joined the LDS Church.  LDS being short for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  That's when my REAL education started on just how nasty inter-denominational squabbling can get.

Now, for the record, LDS members are discouraged from going out and having arguments with other Christians.  Some do so by their own choice, but I really haven't met more than a couple.  See, the reason for this is twofold:  First, because arguments like that only galvanize people into becoming more entrenched in their own position.  The second reason is we know from Scripture that the Holy Spirit isn't going to be in an environment of contention.

Doctrine & Covenants 10:63

And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.

Doctrine & Covenants 121:37

That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

And that makes sense.  The Gospel is about love, forgiveness and peace.  When you have two people heatedly arguing over points of Christian doctrine, it really is throwing all that out the window.

But... people do like to argue about things they're passionate about.  You see it in other areas all the time, like Politics.  Ever seen someone change political parties as a result of a knock-down, drag-out political argument?  

Yeah, me neither.  

I mean, it sure doesn't stop people from that kind of arguing, does it?  It's basically a form of tribalism.  Examples about.  Republican vs. Democrat.  Ford drivers vs. Chevy drivers.  the Washington Capitals and vs. Pittsburg Penguins fans.  Lewis Hamilton fans vs. Max Verstappen fans.  PlayStation vs. XBox.  People naturally organize themselves into groups, but also feel a deep-seated need to aggressively promote their tribe to the top of the pile.

Am I saying that's why people argue religion?  To promote their tribe?  

Well... Yeah.  Partly.  They also do it for personal validation.  They sure don't do it for God, even though I bet every single person who goes out there and looks to argue with others over religion will claim that's what they're doing.  They're not.  Read the Bible.  Jesus didn't go around picking fights.  He taught.  He shared.  He healed people.  What he didn't do was go up to Romans and give them a lecture about their beliefs in their gods.  He didn't go up to the Pharisees and yell at them over their failure to accept His teachings.

Now, it is true that the Pharisees often tried to trip Jesus up over some point of doctrine or another,  to try and catch Him in some kind of paradox and prove the He didn't know what He was doing, or that He was some kind of blasphemer.  But how did He respond?  Did he pull out His copy of the writings in the Old Testament and get into arguing with them over the minutia of some verse or another?  Or did He start insulting them and their beliefs to try and make them convert?  No.  What He did do was use it as a simple teachable moment.  He'd respond in a way that made them look silly, or give them an answer they couldn't push back on and leave it at that.  He didn't promote arguments.  

So with that example set for us by the Savior, just why DO people of Christian denominations argue with each other?  Well, I'll get into that in the next part.