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Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Part IV: The Age
of Faith (NY: Simon & Schuster, 1950), p. 7.
In this Mediterranean world of the fourth century [AD 300-400],
where the state depended so much on religion, ecclesiastical affairs
were in such turmoil that government felt called upon to interfere
even in the mysteries of theology. The great debate between Athanasius
and Arius had not ended with the Council of Nicaea (325). Many
bishops -- in the East a majority* -- still openly or secretly
sided with Arius; i.e., they considered Christ the Son of God,
but neither consubstantial [of the same substance or essence]
nor coeternal with the Father. [Note: that is as LDS believe,
as far as it goes. However, Arius did not believe Christ to be
the physical offspring of God and Mary, but that he became a Son
of God some time after his birth.] Constantine himself, after
accepting the Council's decree [in favor of Athanasius], and banishing
Arius, invited him to a personal conference (331), could find
no heresy in him, and recommended the restoration of Arius and
the Arians to their churches. Athanasius protested; a council
of Eastern bishops at Tyre deposed him [Athanasius] from his Alexandrian
[Egypt] see (335); and for two years he lived as an exile in Gaul
[France]. Arius again visited Constantine, and professed adherence
to the Nicene Creed, with subtle reservations that an emperor
could not be expected to understand. Constantine believed him,
and bade Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople, receive him into
communion.
* Duchesne, L., Early History of the Christian Church,
II, 127.