Is that your artwork?
Is that your artwork?
Very talented, imoYes.
Well, I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit .. but I am not a trinitarian.One: Arius wasn't a 'non-Trinitarian' – as he believed in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He baptised using the tripartite formula.
I'm sure that Arius would not have agreed with you.The issue of polytheism is particular to Arius, in the formulation of his doctrine of Jesus as a lesser divine, a God of God (the Father) but not the same substance as God (the Father) – hence, inevitably, another God ...
..you must have missed the question mark..Two: I never said non-trinitarians are polythesists. Please do not put words in my mouth.
Nor do we Trinitarians.Well, I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit .. but I am not a trinitarian.
I do not believe that God is of three parts.
OK if you think that, but it's there to clarify, not deflect.I'm sure that Arius would not have agreed with you.
This business about "substance" is a mere deflection.
Sorry ... just clarifying Arius wasn't necessarily a non-Trinitarian (although prior to the doctrine), you seem to assume he was?..you must have missed the question mark..
..as I have mentioned countless times, you wish to focus on what Arius believed in detail, and implySorry ... just clarifying Arius wasn't necessarily a non-Trinitarian (although prior to the doctrine), you seem to assume he was?
Yes .. and you insist that those that took his side [deemed Arians, by trinitarians], no longer believed in One God,Non-Trinitarian Christians tend to be monotheists.
..so Roman history, as we are led to believe, claims!It's Arianism that tends to polytheism, although the later semi-Arians tried to work round that.
I am not an honset person..muhammad_isa
Do you HONSETLY believe Muhammed split the Moon in half??????
And as I have countless times responded, you keep making generalised statements that tend to inaccuracy...as I have mentioned countless times, you wish to focus on what Arius believed in detail, and imply that those on his side were "carbon-copies" of him.
That's how you see it, but Arius saw it differently.The main thing, as I see it, is that he did not believe that Jesus and God were one and the same.
Nope.Yes .. and you insist that those that took his side [deemed Arians, by trinitarians], no longer believed in One God,
as they considered Jesus to be God too.
How, exactly, do you think he saw it?That's how you see it, but Arius saw it differently..
I've answered at length ... sheesh ... I'm not going there again! Links above, too.How, exactly, do you think he saw it?
A lesser God. A created God.You say that Arians "tend towards polytheism" ..
..so did Arius see God and Jesus as being equivalent .. or did he see Jesus as being "a lesser god"?
No, because I follow his argument, and he was following Platonism ... so there is a defence there, but my point is, those not versed in Platonic philosophy would have eventually accused him of polytheism – as you would had he become 'orthodox' ...Do you think that it is because you have a very strong belief that Son and Father are equal manifestations,
that you interpret what Arius believed as polytheistic?
Yep. Again, I follow what Arius said, not what anyone else might assume.It's quite simple to me..
One can believe that Jesus is Divine, but not God the Father, and be a strict monotheist.
It all depends on one's interpretation of the word "Divine"
Are you sure that you are not being duped?..Again, I follow what Arius said, not what anyone else might assume.
Platonism was definitely an influence on early Christian thinkersPlatonism? ..and there's me thinking we were discussing Christianity,
Sure, comments could always be clearer.
Pretty saure.Are you sure that you are not being duped?
We know from letters and documents of the era, available at the link above.How do you know precisely what he said?
That's silly – why would I bother. I supplied references for anyone to check ... HAVR YOU?I imagine that you are selective in quoting what he said ..
OK. And we have scholars who's prime concern is for the evidence rather than polemics.We have had centuries of enforcing a trinitarian creed, and denouncing "what Arius said".
Never said he was, said quite the opposite.It's all too convenient .. I'm sure he said a lot of things .. but I doubt he was a fool.
As @TheLightWithin said, Platonism was the language of philosophy, in service to theology.Platonism? ..and there's me thinking we were discussing Christianity,
Never said he did. Said his doctrine would have eventually be accused of such, by people like yourself.Did Arius say that he believed in two gods? No, of course not !
True enough, none of those terms from later theology is spelled out in the Bible