The Arian Controversy

by Henry Melvill Gwatkin

Arianism is extinct only in the sense that it has long ceased to furnish party names. It sprang from permanent tendencies of human nature, and raised questions whose interest can never perish. As long as the Agnostic and the Evolutionist are with us, the old battlefields of Athanasius will not be left to silence. Moreover, no writer more directly joins the new world of Teutonic Christianity with the old of Greek and Roman heathenism. Arianism began its career partly as a theory of Christianity, partly as an Eastern reaction of philosophy against a gospel of the Son of God. Through sixty years of ups and downs and stormy controversy it fought, and not without success, for the dominion of the world. When it was at last rejected by the Empire, it fell back upon its converts among the Northern nations, and renewed the contest as a Western reaction of Teutonic pride against a Roman gospel.

114 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2013

About the author

1844-1916

Reviews

[Regina Andreassen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book was okay but not great. Frankly, the style of this book is too preachy for my taste, it shows clear historical bias, the writing is a bit messy, and the author could have organised the book better, etc; yet, this book has lots of important information that many readers will value and it will definitely appeal to certain type of reader. Despite its flaws and despite the fact that I didn’t really like this book much, I will try to be objective and leave my bias aside: I can see that, in terms of value to a discipline, this books deserves more than 2 stars. Since I cannot put 2.5 stars I am rounding it to 3 stars as that seems fairer than rounding it to just 2 stars.

I think this book had lots of potential but the author’s approach and writing, negatively impacted the quality of this work.