Thank you, I mostly come here to read but am not afraid to place the perspective I have learned and believe. I have read all of the above, which has been entertaining, but find no reason to change that perspective.
Once again I would like to draw your attention to the 7 churches in the Book of Revelation as I think they can give us a good picture of denominations and why they exist.
Within the churches we see differing doctrinal stances, most of which Christ rejects, yet he still refers to each one as his church. This is the view I have accepted since childhood [which seems so long ago and yet I still may have a long life ahead (mid-life crisis? Still don't know what that is supposed to be)]. Not all those within the church are acceptable to Christ [a point he makes very clear] but he is encouraging to those who are acceptable [this is where the idea of the invisible church comes from: those whom Christ finds acceptable in each of the 7 churches]. If you read these churches were not only divided by geography, but by ideology as well. This is not dissimilar to today's world.
Unless you hold the view that your particular denomination is the only true church then, from man's viewpoint, the church is divided.
So my answer to the question, "Is the church divided?"
It certainly looks that way, but don't worry, Jesus will sort it out.
If you hold the historical interpretation of the 7 churches [being 7 periods in church history] you may have difficulty understanding what I am trying to say. I'm sorry, just try to think outside the box a little and it will help you. But that discussion is for a different forum so let's not get side-tracked here.
