The matter was far from settled, however, despite high hopes for such on the part of Constantine. Arius and the new bishop of Alexandria, a man named Athanasius, began arguing over the matter even as the Nicene Creed was being signed; "Arianism" became a catch-word from that time onward for anyone who did not hold to the doctrine of the Trinity.
It wasn't until 451, at the Council of Chalcedon that, with the approval of the Pope, the Nicene/Constantinople Creed was set as authoritative. Debate on the matter was no longer tolerated; to speak out against the Trinity was now considered blasphemy, and such earned stiff sentences that ranged from mutilation to death. Christians now turned on Christians, maiming and slaughtering thousands because of a difference of opinion.
The Unitarian denomination of Christianity has kept alive the teachings of Arius in saying that God is one; they do not believe in the Trinity. As a result, mainstream Christians abhor them, and the National Council of Churches has refused their admittance. In Unitarianism, the hope is kept alive that Christians will someday return to the preachings of Jesus:
"...Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."
(Luke 4:8)
Known as "tawhid" in Islam, and the "Shema," or the Jewish creed of faith: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
It was repeated word-for-word approximately 1500 years later by Jesus when he said: "...The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29)
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2007-09-28 02:27:13 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Probably seemed like a good idea at the time
2007-09-28 02:29:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"to speak out against the Trinity was now considered blasphemy, and such earned stiff sentences that ranged from mutilation to death. Christians now turned on Christians, maiming and slaughtering thousands because of a difference of opinion."
Can you provide some documentation for that claim. Because no history that such a persicution took place at the time.
2007-09-29 06:00:01 · answer #2 · answered by John B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are referring to heretics.
Sure, Christian Gnostics too were heretics.
Yes, Gnostics were persecuted...but...I'm not sure whether the 5th Century Gnostics were killed (sorry, digging up info is hard!)
...However...(a big 'however')...
Here are some disturbing, choice words from Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274):
*"(Heretics are) Not only to be separated from the Church, but also to be eliminated from the world by death"
*In 1209, in France, thousands of Cathars (a Gnostic sect) were massacred by the command of Arnaud-Amaury, Abbot of Cîteaux.
*Arnund:
“Kill them all, the Lord will recognize His own.”
The big problem is - who is the heretic and who is the real follower of Jesus?
Further notes:
.The triunic (Trinity) concept is not uniquely Christian. Only the doctrine is.
. The belief in One, Supreme God of gods is not unique to Christianity.
. In this Y2K, especially, Jesus has become the focal point (of the Trinity). If Jesus replaces the Trinity, wouldn’t this qualify as heresy?
2007-10-01 17:08:11 · answer #3 · answered by Yahoo user 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doctrine of the Trinity does not conflict with the belief in one, true God.
Some people only THINK that it does.
Here's the definitive mathematical proof that three divine and distinct persons can indeed be one:
1 X 1 X 1 = 1.
Now do you see why those onenness guys have ALWAYS been blatant heretics?
2007-09-28 03:37:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Church do not kill people, people kill people. The act of judge jury and executioner by certain radical Christian in the past is motivation by selfish zealous feeling for the religion not the God they worship. For the God they worship is love and forbid killing. Muslim terrorist kill their own Muslim. That does not mean the Muslim religion is bad. The One that is rotten are those who worship religion rather than its God. The God of Abraham is the same God of the Jews, Christian or Muslim. The killing often have other motives that is normally base on power and wealth. Many bishop of the 17th Century Church kill others Christian for various reasons often have other motive to take their lands and property and using religion to get rid of the owner. The God of Christianity forbid killing in any form. Sadly the Devil is using the same strategy to destroy the Muslim religion as He did to the the church in the 17th Century. Many Muslim brother are blind to this fact. They idolized the religion and Muhammad but put the Allah secondary or else they will not and could not kill in His Name. Allah forbid.
2007-10-02 02:20:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is true that Christianity does have innocent blood on its hands, especially the early church and the dark ages. The Trinity is a fact settled long ago, as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one.
The blood spilled by Christians, including the Crusades, pales in comparison with the murder brought to the earth by Islam, and the death of morality, and the death of innocence.. Islam brings Christ back to avenge the blood of the Saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Christ.
2007-09-28 02:32:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know that religious people killed in the name of their religion. I deny that Christians killed Christians. I have no problem with any of the passages that say there is one God.. The Father is called God, so is the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all in scripture. So unless you want to deny the parts of the Bible you just quoted and say there are three Gods. The idea that these three persons are the one true God.. All the Bible has to be true or none of it is... IHS Jim
2007-09-28 02:56:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1 John 2:9-10, states That anyone who hates his brother is still in darkness. the church was still in darkness with coming up with a man-made doctrine of trying to explain God. Many refused and were killed, In the old testament the Hebrews only believe in one God and now with the emergence of religion we have have a God that is 3?
2007-09-28 02:35:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank you . I'm one who doesn't follow the Trinity. The other christians say i'm not going to heaven. I'm not JW or Mornom. I know,There are a few here that believe the same as I.
GOD BLESS
2007-09-28 02:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by TCC Revolution 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never understood why anyone of any religion would find any good reason to murder another person just because of difference in opinion. I suppose Lucifer has his ways of finding opportunities to sneak in to cause people to 'step off track' so people will loose sight of what the purpose of their faith is.
2007-09-28 02:38:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Divide the words of the Bible and you well know you take the word of God out of context.
Does the Bible teach the trinity? definite.
Was Christ in agreement with the word of God. Christ is the word of God.
Christians all believe that God is one because God is one.
The trinity is one God your argument is presupposing the trinity is more than one God.
2007-09-28 02:34:34 · answer #11 · answered by djmantx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋