Is it because Arius lost that we think Jesus is God?

Question

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

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

We follow Athanasius because he was an effective religious 'mobster'?

[edit] Allegations of violence
Some modern historians suggest that the tactics of Athanasius were a significant factor in his success. He did not hesitate to back up his theological views with the use of force. In Alexandria, he assembled a group that could instigate a riot in the city if needed. It was an arrangement "built up and perpetuated by violence."[13] Along with the standard method of excommunication he used beatings, intimidation, kidnapping and imprisonment to silence his theological opponents. Unsurprisingly, these tactics caused widespread distrust and led him to being tried many times for "bribery, theft, extortion, sacrilege, treason and murder.[14] While the charges rarely stuck, his reputation was a major factor in his multiple exiles from Alexandria.

He justified these tactics with the argument that he was saving all future Christians from hell. Athanasius stubbornly refused to compromise his theological views by stating, "What is at stake is not just a theological theory but people's salvation."[15] He played a clear role in making the Constantinian shift a part of the theology of the church.

Answer 1

People think Jesus is God because they decide to ignore the clear evidence from the Bible that Jesus is God's Son, not God. While Jesus is often called the Son of God in the Bible, nobody in the first century ever thought of him as being God the Son. Even the demons, who "believe there is one God," knew from their experience in the spirit realm that Jesus was not God. So, correctly, they addressed Jesus as the separate "Son of God." (James 2:19; Matthew 8:29) And when Jesus died, the pagan Roman soldiers standing by knew enough to say that what they had heard from his followers must be right, not that Jesus was God, but that "certainly this was God's Son."—Matthew 27:54.

Hence, the phrase "Son of God" refers to Jesus as a separate created being, not as part of a Trinity. As the Son of God, he could not be God himself, for John 1:18 says: "No one has ever seen God."—RS, Catholic edition.

The disciples viewed Jesus as the "one mediator between God and men," not as God himself. (1 Timothy 2:5) Since by definition a mediator is someone separate from those who need mediation, it would be a contradiction for Jesus to be one entity with either of the parties he is trying to reconcile. That would be a pretending to be something he is not.

The Bible is clear and consistent about the relationship of God to Jesus. Jehovah God alone is Almighty. He created the prehuman Jesus directly. Thus, Jesus had a beginning and could never be coequal with God in power or eternity.

BTW, Athanasius did not believe Jesus was God. He believed that Jesus and his Father were equals. Arius believed just the opposite.

Answer 2

This is sooo not my strength (greek), but I have to tell you what road I've been led down today, dont worry, it relates. There is one other movie (biography) that has always stayed with me. Long story short, I watched it again and noticed they said the reason christians dont believe in reincarnation was because of emporer constantine (I knew the name but that about it). then I did a little research on that, which led me to Arianism, and the word Arius stood out. I went thru your questions and sure enough, here I am.

This is the God that I remember...the feeling of being led. Not that I fully understand squat today, but it definitely feels like its all coming together.

My point really has nothing to do with reincarnation, just the fact that I was led back here. Honestly, Arius had no meaning to me yesterday, that was why I skipped this question. So I'm really surprised I thought to go back to your questions when I saw that word.

EDIT - this is too much for me, I just had to listen to that part one more time, and it was Emperor Justinian, and the Second Council of Constantinople. My internet search must have led to constantine..and on to arius. Its all around the same timeframe, so I'll have to see what the connection is..tomorrow.

Answer 3

Of course. History (that which religious people ignore) will show the dirty works involved in inventing a new religion. The foundations of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, are soaked in blood. However as religions evolve they are reformed in our own images; belief is the aim, not truth.

Answer 4

This Athanasius is not mentioned in the Bible, so his views on anything are worthless.
Even the people who were against God, those who ARE named in the Bible, can be used as an example of what NOT to do.
Those NOT named should not be considered..

Answer 5

Sorry! Greek history of twisted men on their pagan beliefs and lies, isn't why, I know Jesus Christ is God! You seem to be well versed in Greek history! But have you ever met Jesus? Have you ever felt the presents of the Holy Ghost? Have you ever considered putting away your education? And seeking to really know the Lord?

Answer 6

Who declared Jesus the son of god?
is there any single, unequivocal statement in the Bible whereby Jesus himself declares, "I am God, therefore worship me."
The act of begetting is a physical act and such act is against God’s nature. The Qur’an 19:35 says:
"It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is." (Maryam 19:35)
The teachings of Jesus as the Son of God were not preached by Jesus nor accepted by Jesus, but were taught by Paul as supported in Acts 9:20: "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." Did Jesus ever claim to be God or say, "Here am I, your God, worship me"? The answer is no. For there is no single, unequivocal statement in the Bible whereby Jesus himself declares, "I am God, therefore worship me." Virtually all of the more than two thousand verses of the epistles of Paul are his own fabrications to include Romans 9:5 that says, depending upon which Bible you read: "...Christ came, who is overall, the eternally blessed God."

Gospels of Paul.
Christians should know that Paul himself mentions his own gospel, not Jesus, in his epistle to the Romans when he says in Romans 2:16: "In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."
In face, the Pauline epistle to the Romans serves as the foundation of today’s Christianity. Thus, it is the Christians whose efforts will be wasted in this life as they think they were acquiring good by their works when they attribute partners to God, as stated in Chapter 18:103-106 of the Qur’an: "Say: Shall we tell you of those who lost most in respect of their deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" they are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of judgment, give them any weight. That is their reward, Hell; because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. (Al-Kahf 18:103-106)

Was Saint Paul a ‘prophet’.
Indeed, it is so strange and ironic, knowing that none of Paul’s epistle to the Romans, more than 430 verses, were ever formulated by Jesus. Paul should have made direct reference to the pristine teachings of Jesus, if only the former claim for apostleship by divine inspiration was indeed true. Instead, large parts of his epistles’ Biblical quotations (notably those in the Epistle to the Romans) were taken from the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Hosea. His epistles were, indeed a product of tedious efforts, but that does not make Paul far better than any of the other men who authored the Bible, nor does it make him a Prophet.

Is Christmas a Pagan belief?
The Christian practices that were adopted under Paul included the following: the Roman sun-day as the Christian Sabbath; the traditional birthday of the Sun-god as the birthday of Jesus; the emblem of the sun-god (the cross of light) to be the emblem of Christians; and, the incorporation of all the ceremonies which were performed at the Sun-god’s birthday celebrations. Some of the days of the week are called after Norse Gods.
Sunday – Sun Day (sun god), Monday – Moon Day (moon god), Wednesday - Wodin (or Odin),
Thursday – Thor, Friday - Friea

The Crucifixion according to gospel of paul?
A very significant event in the Christian doctrine is the Crucifixion of Jesus. Before talking about the many controversies surrounding the Crucifixion, it should be mentioned that it was a gospel of Paul’s which professed the Crucifixion/Resurrection of Jesus (II Timothy 2:8):
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel."

Answer 7

Wow, all this typing and there is no god. How positively banal.

Answer 8

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz