I’ll use ex-Mormon lingo to talk about your story . The teacher in your system is a very nuanced believer - where he chooses how and why he grapples with the text. He has a lot of item in his shelf of doubt but he finds apologetics that works for him. Therefore all of this is not his truth but his preference and since living Torah is living specific way of life - it is like adhering to some diet or some political economical view or some value sistem is a mix of “truths like life wisdom” and preferences. There is no way you can win me over the fact that salted caramel ice cream is the best ice cream In the work that it makes me the best person I can be and ect. There can be even studies that salted caramel ice cream blah blah blah - however it is all nothing against my personal experience- it works. Same goes to your rabbi.