@John7755 يوحنا is very knowledgeable about this and I respect that.
I do think though that the Qur'an contradicts what you've said. Verse 2.62:
"The believers, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabeans - all those who believe in God and the last day and do good - will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve."
This isn't the only example either. There are plenty of examples from the sunnah and the Rashidun Caliphs that confirm tolerance and respect to Christians and Jews.
I've noticed before a tendency in your Islam posts to opt for a rather Salafist interpretation of Islam. It's not my place to judge but I suspect we will tend to disagree from time to time, though I hope I'm wrong inshallah.
That's the thing with Islam (and other faiths) though- they are ultimately open to infinite interpretation and our understanding usually depends on who we are, what our experiences were, and what our character. So one cannot definitively say any individual is right absolutely, since that is rarely likely to be the case, and perhaps not even possible given the complexity of the subject and the ultimately unknowable nature of god.
To begin, there is nothing wrong with this term Salafist, it is certainly superior than being called Shi'i or other titles that conform to a single person, thus in some ways, making them an idol. Salafist only means that you supposedly follow the predecessors and or earliest Muslim. If a Muslim sees this as a negative and not exemplifying his faith, then what minhaj (path) are they upon that has a difference to that of the followers of Muhammad (SAW) or a difference to that of Muhammad himself (SAW). No offense to you, however, you should perhaps look into whom you look toward as examples, is it the Salaf, or is it later innovators (not even using this in a negative form)? Remember that if you insult the Salaf or nullify their practices, the old saying goes 'one is judged by his friends and by whom he pays his time'. It should also be remembered the sunnah, that those who are the first generation is the best generation, in our sunnah, the student never surpasses the teacher. However, I would not term myself as Salafi, even though this would be an honorable title indeed, to be an assured follower of those who learned from the Prophet (SAW). Rather, I espouse Hanbali Fiqh generally and this would be the school that I associate most with and the Faqih whom I consider the most correct. Otherwise, the term remaining is only Muslim as was intended by Allah (SWT) and thus afterwards, I do not discriminate unless one asks me, as you inadvertently do as to who of the main scholars that I find most correct.
Concerning Quran 2:62
“What is meant is that every group believed in Allah and the Last Day, which is the appointed Day of Reckoning, and did righteous deeds. But after Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent to both mankind and the jinn, true belief can only be in accordance with the way of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Whoever follows his way will not fear the future or grieve for what they leave behind." -Ibn Kathir
This is gained through the combination of a similar surah soon after:
“Surely, those who believe, those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians – whosoever believed in Allah and the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” -Quran 5:69
Relating to Quran 5:69, the tafsir is clear, those among the Jews, Christians, etc,,, who held to their faith prior to Muhammad (SAW) and did not indulge in the shirk or kufr, were blameless. Allah (SWT) does not confer sins retroactively, the Jew who followed the code of Moses, did not abandon the laws given by Allah (SWT) and did not deviate into the shirk that the Jewish people indulged in, are blameless in regards to not being born to accept Muhammad's (SAW) message. Likewise, the Christians or followers of Jesus the Messiah, who worshiped the One God and did not exaggerate (al-ghulat) in their love of Jesus to the point of giving him a divine status or attributing separate divinity to the breath (Holy Ghost) of Allah (SWT) are so too blameless in regards to accepting Muhammad (SAW) prior to his message (even when Muhammad(SWT) was alive, but yet to receive the message and died upon their Islam before the message).
In short, Islam is submission to the Monotheism of Allah (SWT) and all of its implications, as well as submission to His Shariah and acceptance of His prophet(s). Only those who accept these points are destined for the eternal life with Allah (SWT) in the afterlife. The persons who were Jews and Christians that followed the teachings of Moses or Jesus or Abraham, etc, are not Jews or Christians per se, rather to us, they are Muslims. Likewise, all those whoa re born, are born Muslim and upon the truth, there were Muslims of the past before Muhammad(SAW). Islam if we remember is the religion commanded and owned by Allah (SWT) not by the most honored Muhammad (SAW).
This description however does not apply to the majority of Christians (none of them now) or Jews (none of them now), only to those prior to Muhammad (SAW) who did not indulge in the kufr of their religions. One who associates partners with Allah (SWT) is not a beloved person, nor will he taste paradise, regardless of the prophet whom he supposedly received knowledge from. This is a clear-cut issue further, not that of any particular school and is something that is known by necessity, as a Muslim, it is required of you to reject the faiths that practice the idolatry and associate partners to Allah (SWT) or similar innovations.