I agree. Interesting idea of how we were liberal with the small things first, and then the more important doctrine.Hmm, this is actually an interesting point that I had not really spent any time considering before (now that I get your gist, sorry). And I suppose you are correct, to a point. Or maybe not? I think the Reformation made some startling breaks from the RCC, and once they managed to get the movement really established, there were many key doctrines that were seen as essential. In fact, there still are today. I suppose they would be what we call the "closed hand" issues...those essentials of faith that we would say if you don't believe, then you would not be a "Christian". Most Protestant Churches would probably enforce those essentials within their covenant members.
I think where we probably differ from the RCC, and why we've ended up having all the little "off-shoots" of "Protestantism", is because we do allow for differences and liberty within the "open-hand" issues. So we saw groups breaking off to suit each other there. But the more leniant we were in those issues, I suspect, the greater the chance was for the greater 'break-aways'....the differences in the essential issues, the ones that really matter. That's where we began to see what we would call the 'christian cults' begin to form. Bits and pieces of truth worked in around lots of areas of human made doctrine.
So...while we Protestants value our open hand liberty, there seems to be something to the stricter RCC approach!
All cults have some truth in them. Too much going away from the bible and Jesus and honing in on one man, the more human and secular the "religion" will be and the farther from God.
You're also right about how this came about slowly. I know an Assembly of God church in Milan that had a schism. And what was it about? The divinity of Jesus!
The persons who left believe Jesus was not God but the Messiah, being understood as the anointed one sent by God to relay His message to mankind.
Even in children's classrooms some rules must apply to keep order or they won't learn anything. Yes, maybe we've been too lenient? I've started threads on what it means to be Christian and many will say "just believe in Jesus". Well, what does that mean anyway! Difficult to balance spirituality with rules...