Arius was a humble priest of the early fourth century. According to Rubenstein’s When Jesus Became God, p. 53, “He was greatly admired for his personal purity as well as for his preaching and was a particular favorite of the sailors, dockworkers and young women who flocked to his church.” Arius was known as a gifted orator and composer, who wrote poetry and songs supporting his theology. But persecution soon ensued. In his letter to the Church historian Eusebius, Arius said that, “the bishop greatly wastes and persecutes us, and leaves no stone unturned against us. He has driven us out of the city as atheists … We are persecuted, because we say that the Son has a beginning, but that God is without beginning."
The controversy came to a head with the bishop Athanasius. Rubenstein, on page 62-63 reports that Athanasius was “a small, red-headed man, almost childlike in size, but those who considered him insignificant or manipulable soon learned to regret their error … [he was] quite prepared to use the violent methods of the streets, when necessary, to accomplish worthwhile goals.” The emperor Constantine presided over the disputation in 325 C.E., and the resulting unscriptural Nicene Creed is still accepted by most mainstream denominations today. Non-trinitarianism, also known as Unitarianism, in general, remains a ‘heresy’. Arius met his end with an intestinal hemmorage on the eve of being formally accepted back into the church, and there is suspicion that he was murdered by Athanasius or his supporters.
Although Arius' teachings continued to survive after Nicaea, especially in the Eastern Empire, and among the Germanic tribes, trinitarianism eventually became the dominant view, often through violent means. Unitarianism subsequently reappeared in various forms throughout history, such as the Socinians in Italy, the Polish Brethren, and the Unitarians in England and America. It is our belief that Unitarianism--which sees the Father as God Almighty and the Divine Son as subject to Him--was the belief and teaching of Jesus and his apostles.
Christians who were outstanding in their walk with the Lord. They considered the bible as God's Word, and the pursuit of truth as paramount. Many suffered for their faith at the hands of evil governments and corrupt churches. They provide good examples for those who wish to be genuine disciples of Jesus. This list is by no means exhaustive and will be augmented as time allows.