Scholars on tap or on top?

The struggle is between two contrasting pictures. One sharp and immediately understood and the other fuzzy and badly out of focus.

In the first case scenario a clear interlinked all or nothing three-point criteria for salvation, irrespective of one's formal ties to a specific belief system;

One simple choice A.

A. Take the following to heart and you are on your way to salvation
 1. Belief in one God
 2. The belief that there is going to be a Day of Judgment
 3. Do good deeds

The source of the above position is based on100% verifiable words of God that don't need  "expert knowledge" in order to be verified. Hence, anybody is free to do it.

In the second case scenario, with several competing offers, is the notion that your salvation depends on a series of dos and don'ts derived from complex theological premises that are ordinarily beyond an individual's ability to grasp. In order for an individual to benefit from this "indispensable" and  complex foundation, he or she must choose from the following two alternative B or C;

B. Accept the dos and don'ts without a peep and hope for the best, popularly known as blind faith. In which case any sect of any religion will do.
C. Try to understand the truth behind the promises of mere mortals that are "guaranteeing" one's salvation in the "explanations" of the same mortals

Of course one always has a D option
D. Try to understand the truth independent of a particular "explanation"

The first choice B in this second scenario is self-explanatory in the sense that one is willing to entrust one's eternity in the hands of mere mortals.

The second choice C in the second scenario is bold and yet defective and here is why?

1. First one must join a sect
2. Agree to follow the sect’s rules unconditionally
3. Pay your dues
4. Gain favors of the sect leaders
5. Earn the collective approval stamp of the sect in order for the sect to give you the permission to be able to say that you understand as understood by the sect.
6. If at any point during decades-old "understanding" process one starts to object to the sect's position in any way, one should expect to be excommunicated or worse.

Once one has earned the understanding, he or she will be declared ready to do it to the next person who demands to understand the premises that are tied to his or her supposed salvation.

 There are several twists of the C in the second case scenario but essentially designed to shut up the person on the street. There is no other way to put it.

In the case one goes for D in the second scenario, the chances are quite good that one will end up adopting A.

 My question is; which of the two scenarios above seems to be coming from a God that is the creator of the Universe and you inside it?

You choose :)

Addendum; Scholars are supposed to be on tap and never on top. If one were to identify a single biggest blunder an individual can commit, it has to be falling for the "my scholars are better than yours" absurdity. There is only one rule that counts; never believe anything which you cannot verify yourself using your faculties of observation, sound reasoning, and correct inference. No exceptions.