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Originating around AD 320 as taught by [[Arius]], '''Arianism''' was the [[theology|theological]] view that [[Jesus]] was divine, but was created by and is lesser than God the Father.  Arianism was Christian, but was denounced as [[heresy]] by the orthodox trinitarians, or Athanasians (after Athanasius of Alexandria who argued against the Arians at the First Council of Nicaea), who eventually prevailed.  All of the writings of Arius were systematically destroyed by the Church, but historians have reconstructed his thoughts from the arguments used against them by orthodox trinitarians.

Originating around AD 320 as taught by [[Arius]], '''Arianism''' was the [[theology|theological]] view that [[Jesus]] was divine, but was created by and is lesser than God the Father.  Arianism was Christian, but was denounced as [[heresy]] by the orthodox trinitarians, or Athanasians (after Athanasius of Alexandria who argued against the Arians at the First Council of Nicaea), who eventually prevailed.  All of the writings of Arius were systematically destroyed by the Church, but historians have reconstructed his thoughts from the arguments used against them by orthodox trinitarians.

Arianism was officially condemned as incorrect by the [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325, which gave its seal of authority to the established [[Holy Trinity|trinitarian]] view. On the surface the Arian position appeared to die out, but it simmered under the surface and re-emerged after the death of the Emperor [[Constantine]] being cultivated by key bishops and a continued underground in the East. The acceptance by Constantine's son [[Constantius II]] of the Arian heresy caused many bishops under his jurisdiction in the Eastern part of the Empire to be exiled and trinitarianism was temporarily suppressed when Constantius took over the Western part of the Roman Empire as well.  Even [[Pope Liberius]] was exiled.  Under [[Julian the Apostate]], the next Emperor, all exiled bishops were allowed back, in part to promote infighting among Christians.<ref>http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Arianism</ref>  Arianism's sudden rise dissipated when [[Valentinian]], a trinitarian became Emperor in the West followed a decade later by [[Theodius]], a trinitarian, in the East.  Religious uniformity was again restored when another religious council reiterated that Arianism was a heresy (379).   

Arianism was officially condemned as incorrect by the [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325, which gave its seal of authority to the established [[Holy Trinity|trinitarian]] view. On the surface the Arian position appeared to die out, but it simmered under the surface and re-emerged after the death of the Emperor [[Constantine]] being cultivated by key bishops and a continued underground in the East. The acceptance by Constantine's son [[Constantius II]] of the Arian heresy caused many bishops under his jurisdiction in the Eastern part of the Empire to be exiled and trinitarianism was temporarily suppressed when Constantius took over the Western part of the Roman Empire as well.  Even [[Pope Liberius]] was exiled.  Under [[Julian|Julian the Apostate]], the next Emperor, all exiled bishops were allowed back, in part to promote infighting among Christians.<ref>http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Arianism</ref>  Arianism's sudden rise dissipated when [[Valentinian]], a trinitarian became Emperor in the West followed a decade later by [[Theodius]], a trinitarian, in the East.  Religious uniformity was again restored when another religious council reiterated that Arianism was a heresy (379).   

Never having the numerical support of most bishops, priests or laity to begin with, Arianism died out inside the Empire almost overnight, but continued to be a threat to the Roman Empire as many of the surrounding tribes had and were accepting Christianity, but were converted with an Arian stamp.

Never having the numerical support of most bishops, priests or laity to begin with, Arianism died out inside the Empire almost overnight, but continued to be a threat to the Roman Empire as many of the surrounding tribes had and were accepting Christianity, but were converted with an Arian stamp.