Is Athanasius the inventor of Christianity?

Question

If you don't know who he is, then you don't know where the Christian religion came from. Note, particularly, the section about the New Testament canon. He may have been the most significant factor in which stories were perpetuated, which, in many ways, makes him the architect of the religion. To call Christianity "organized" before his time may be a stretch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria

Answer 1

You should better define your search on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

Answer 2

His willingness to grab power over the objections of the bishops, to use mob violence to suppress his theological opponents, his selling of grain collected for the poor to enrich himself, all paint a picture of the perfect Christian leader. Certainly Protestants point to him as the Father of the Canon since they use the Bible he set forth, and not the one Catholics use containing the Apochrypha.

We can certainly thank Athanasius for using his influence to have the still pagan emperor Constantine impose the incoherent and irrational and polytheistic gibberish of Trintiarianism. Athanasius' one-man campaign to destroy Arius and the Alexandrian theologians who opposed Athanasius inexplicable views of the relationships between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, ultimately resulted in the senseless babbling we know as the Nicene Creed.

I guess I agree he selected the books of the Bible, including some whose authenticity were generally disputed at the time. I also agree he is the man who through his political manipulations imposed Trinitarianism on Christianity, though there remain a few Christianisms that reject Trinitarianism: Mormons, Jehovah's Wtinessses, Oneness Pentecostalism. Those of course have their own silliness to answer for.

Answer 3

I know him so well. I live in the same area, where he lived.
He didn't invent Christianity.
Christianity came from the name of Jesus Christ.
Without Jesus Christ there is no Christianity.

He was a Christian bishop, the Bishop of Alexandria, in the fourth century, in the earliest christian country. OK

But The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Gregorian Church, is the world's oldest national church and one of the most ancient Christian communities.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion, in 301, when St. Gregory the Illuminator converted Tiridates III (the King of Armenia), to Christianity.

Answer 4

Goodness, no. There were three centuries of Christianity before Athanasius The Great came along. While he was the great hero of Orthodoxy at Nicea I - one could hardly call him the "inventor". The Great Defender? Yes...absolutley.

BTW - take some classes in Patristics, rather than studying "Wiki" sites!

Answer 5

I do know who Athanasius was, but I do not think he was the "inventor" of Christianity. He was a defender of the faith. He was involved in theological and political struggles with the Emporer and the Arian church. He wrote many important works, including his major theological treatises, The Life of St. Antony and Four Orations against the Arians, and a number of letters on theological, pastoral, and administrative topics.

His concern was directed at the unity of the Church, so a uniform canon was important.

There are many important theologians in Christian/Catholic history. All of them did a great deal to structure and hone the beliefs and teachings of Christ.

The only one who can be credited with beginning Christianity is Christ himself..."thou art Peter and on this rock (Peter) I build my church."

Answer 6

I agree with promoa, Jesus Christ was the creator of Christianity, it was at Antioch where followers of Jesus were called Christians.Acts 11:26 " And when he found him he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. Andthe diciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

{(He) being Barnabas (him) being Saul}.
if you read Acts chapter 11 you will have a better understanding. God Bless

Answer 7

You do not know what you are stating, my friend.
Christianity is named before the name of Jesus Christ. The word Christ. So that , christianity means religious teachings of Christ and the people who believe and follows the teachings of Christ are called Christians, true Christians but some say they are Christians but they are not truly believing Christ because they have belief on their traditions which is prohibited by Jesus Christ.
jtm

Answer 8

Athanasius or anybody else for that matter cannot raise the dead, cant do miracles, and cannot die for your sins.

Jesus is the true inventor and author of salvation.

Answer 9

The creator of Christianity was Jesus Christ......

I am a follower of Him alone

Answer 10

The creator of all, including Christianity, is God

The adapter of all there is is man.

Athanasius is man. He adapted.