Page "Arianism" Paragraph 5

Controversy over Arianism arose in the late 3rd century and persisted throughout most of the 4th century.

It involved most church members — from simple believers, priests and monks to bishops, emperors and members of Rome's imperial family.

Such a deep controversy within the Church during this period of its development could not have materialized without significant historical influences providing a basis for the Arian doctrines.

Some historians define and minimize the Arian conflict as the exclusive construct of Arius and a handful of rogue bishops engaging in heresy ; but others recognize Arius as a defender of ' original ' Christianity, or as providing a conservative response against the politicization of Christianity seeking union with the Roman Empire.

Of the roughly three hundred bishops in attendance at the Council of Nicea, only two bishops did not sign the Nicene Creed, which condemned Arianism.

However, to minimize the extent of the movement ignores the facts that at least two Roman emperors, Constantius II and Valens, became Arians, as did prominent Gothic, Vandal and Lombard warlords both before and after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.