The first step that drifted Christianity away from monotheism

[Zainab_M]

Many of us have often wondered how Christianity, like Islam, being a monotheistic Abrahamic faith in its originality, drifted away from the values of strict monothesim to the ideologies of associating partners with Almighty Allah.

The following are the facts in brief, that initiated the deviation of Christianity through the misguidance of some of their own religious authorities.

In Christianity, the 1st ecumenical council or the 1st council of Nicaea was held in the town of Nicaea (or Nicea) in modern Iznik, Turkey in 325 AD.  It was the first of its kind, and is noted for being among the most important in defining Christianity.  This council was convened by Roman Emperor Constantine.   The main issue with the 325 AD council was the controversy over Jesus' nature, and the relation between God and Jesus.

Arius was a Christian priest and founder of Arianism.  Apparently, Arianism was a doctrine that was much more in line with monotheism.  It was an orientation that rejected the undivided unity of Jesus and God.  It also rejected the idea of divine nature of Jesus.  Arius appears to have been a strong leader attracting a large following in Alexandria.  He was said to be a man of morals and decided convictions.  It is also said that he was in tension with mainstream Christianity concerning the true nature of Jesus, long before his official definition of Arianism in 318.

Athanasius was another religious authority who's views were opposite of Arius, and therefore it would be true to say that he was one of the persons responsible to initiate the deviation of Christianity from monothesim.  This man was  a patriarch of Alexandria and he defended the formula which stated that Jesus was divine, against Arianism.

The background of the 1st council of Nicaea was the strength of the orientation defined by Arius at the time, claiming that Jesus was a created being, not a divine being.  However, this council adopted as a test of faith (as they called it), a formula with the Greek word homoousion which indicates the human construction of the story making Jesus divine against the principle of monotheism.  This Greek word became the foundation of Christian orthodoxy and the bugbear of Arianism.  It established the divinity of Jesus and the blasphemous ideology of his equality with Almighty God.  The formula of homoousion was accepted by all the bishops except two, who were banished along with Arius.  It is said that this council also standardized the date of Easter and gave patriarchal authority to the bishop of Alexandria.

A 2nd council was held in Nicaea in 787 AD which validated the veneration of images and sent out an order to restore images in churches throughout the Roman Empire. The 1st council is often referred to as only "The Council of Nicaea" without the inclusion of the 2nd council. 

But the 1st and 2nd councils together, make up the complete deviation of Christianity from the purity of the value of monotheism as Almighty Allah meant it to be. 

This is how the Christian faith began getting ruined at the hands of influential clerics.

We are so pleased and fortunate that Allah Almighty has granted us the gift of guidance to accept Him alone as the sole Deity, without associating any partners and to surrender ourselves to Allah alone. 

May Allah (The Highest) continue guiding the true Muslims who have surrendered their purpose to Him alone.

There is no god but Allah.  Praise be to Allah and Allah alone.  He is the Greatest.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Really appaling, isn't it?  This is how people get misguided, by their own fellow human beings.  A clear example of human dictates and ideas being more dear to humankind than the Divine Message.  And as this piece of historical information shows, there are a few properly guided ones but they neither command as much respect nor influence as the violators.  However, this is the way things run in this world.   When these folks stand before Allah in the next world, it will be a totally different story for them.  But alas, too little .... too late!

Thanks for posting this truth, sister.

Assalam Alaykom and peace.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Good one, sister zeynab.  Many Christians get mad if you tell them that Christians worship images or have introduced polytheistic values in their originally monotheistic faith.  They persist in kufari yet keep denying it.  They actually try to take advantage because they know most Muslims today don't know their history.  Many of them also don't know much about their own history and how the true history of Christianity has been replaced by the fraudulent one.  Such solid historical evidence that can't be refuted is the best way to put matters on the table.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Another interesting piece.  I really like your research on history, sister.  I had before in a few websites heard of the council of Nicea but most such pieces were so long and detailed that I just didn't have the time to stick them out.  But this one is really well put.  I'm sure the baby boomer generation of orthodox Christians know of this but I wonder if they've informed their coming generations.

Muslims should certainly beware these facts.  In order to hold on tightly to the rope of guidance given to us by Allah (The Highest), we must know of the dangers that are constantly at work to make us loosen that grip.  It will be much easier for us to block those dangers once we know their tactics of misguidance.