rationalskepticism.org

duvduv wrote:Leucius, could you elaborate on the point aboutArius the Platonist being transformed in Church fiction into a Christian heretic?

I have written an essay on this subject entitled :
A Pageant of Christian Identity Frauds masquerade in the Academy of Plato
http://www.mountainman.com.au/essenes/N ... Christ.htm

ABSTRACT

Evidence is presented to substantiate the presence of at least a trinity of Christian Identity Frauds masquerading in the Academy of Plato during the 3rd century. (1,2,3) From the 4th century mention is resurrected of Porphyry's Christian Identity Fraud and the likelihood is explored that the Christian Presbyter Arius of Alexandria, is just another Identity Fraud in a pattern of similar evidence. (4,5) The events of the Council of Nicaea are reconstructed in such a manner as to narrate from the profane perspective, the heresy, the exile and the "damnatio memoriae" of Arius of Alexandria, a non christian theologian/philosopher associated with the Alexandrian academy of Plato c.324 CE. (6,7) •(0) Introduction - The Nondual God of Plato, Plato's Canon and its Apostolic Lineage

•(1) The Two Ammonii - Ammonius Saccas the Platonist and Ammonius the Christian

•(2) The Two Origen's - Origen the Platonist and Origen the Christian.

•(3) The Two Anatolii - Anatolius of Alexandria the Platonist and Anatolius the Christian Bishop

•(4) The Two Porphyrii - Porphyry the Platonist and Porphyry the Christian author

•(5) The Two Arii - Arius of Alexandria the Platonist and Arius the Christian Presbyter.

•(6) Reconstructing a Profane History of Nicaea - The Gods in the books of Plato and Constantine

•(7) Identity Frauds, conclusions and recommendations - Condemnation of pious forgery.

•(8) Reference: the Apostolic Lineage of the Academy of Plato - a chronological tabulation

Identity Fraud: - A criminal activity involving the use of a stolen or misappropriated identity. The process usually involves either stolen or forged identity documents used to obtain goods or services by deception.

Am happy to answer any questions.

I have never found any satisfactory explanation from Church dogma why Constantine would have invited all types of people to Nicaea if official Church Christianity was already firmly at the helm. How could this church hsve tolerated all types of "heretics" allegedly since the first century if official Christianity was the official form of Christianity. And certainly Constantine would not have tolerated heretics to invite them to Nicaea.

Fragments of the history of Philip of Side tell a slightly different story than the "Eusebian model" of the Nicene Council. In this version the Nicene Council is attended by crowds of philosophers "who were very good with words".

SOURCE (6): Philip of Side, 5th century


Fr. 5.6
[Supporters of Arius at the Council of Nicaea]
Anonymous Ecclesiastical History 2.12.8-10 [p. 47, lines 5-19 Hansen][160]

(8) When these things were expressed by them
or rather, through them, by the Holy Spirit
those who endorsed Arius' impiety
were wearing themselves out with murmuring

(these were the circles of Eusebius of Nicomedia
and Theognis of Nicaea, whom I have already pointed out earlier),

and yet they were looking with favor on the "hirelings" of Arius,
certain philosophers who were indeed very good with words;
Arius had hired them as supporters of his own wickedness,
and arrived with them at that holy and ecumenical council.

(9) For there were present very many philosophers;
and having put their hopes in them, as I have said just now,
the enemies of the truth were reasonably caught,
along with the one who actually taught them their blasphemy.

The Holy Scripture was fulfilled in him and in them, which says,
"Cursed is everyone who has his hope in a mortal man,
and whose heart has departed from the Lord."[161]

(10) For truly, the blasphemous heart of the fighter against God, Arius,
and of those who shared in his impiety, departed from the Lord
they dared to say that the Son of God, the creator of the universe
and the craftsman of both visible and invisible created natures,
is something created and something made.

The Nicene Council was IMO simply a "Council of War" held by the Victor, presided over by the Victor in order to discuss the terms and conditions of the Victory. The army is conspicuous in its attendance.

From Robin Lane Fox's "Pagans and Christians" ....

The Council of Nicaea

• p.655: "Among his other innovations, it was Constantine who first mastered
the art of holding, and corrupting, an international conference."

On entering, recalled Eusebius

"units of the bodyguard and other troops
surrounded the palace with drawn swords,
and through them the men of God proceeded
without fear into the innermost rooms of the Emperor,
in which some were companions at table,
while others reclined on couches either side."

It was "like a dream", he said,
an anticipatory picture
of the kingdom of Christ.