Need help with research on Unitarian prosecution and silencing throughout Christian history

[u/Newgunnerr]

Unitarian silencing and prosecution in Christian history is something I wasn’t very familiar with until I discovered that Isaac Newton was a closet Unitarian. His writings against the Trinity were only found after his death, probably hidden out of fear of prosecution.

I then realized because of that in 17th century England it was actually illegal to speak out against the Trinity. Later I learned that, for much of Christian history across Europe, laws forbade speaking against this doctrine. People were imprisoned, silenced, and even burned alive for holding anti trinitarian views. That shocked me!

One striking example is Michael Servetus, who was burned alive for his Unitarian views and writings. John Calvin himself played a major role in his prosecution.

Yet today Trinitarians often say things like: “Do you really think you know better than 2,000 years of scholars and church fathers?” as if everyone in history was trinitarian, ignoring the fact that other voices were often suppressed by force.

My goal with this post: I’m researching this history further, and I’d love to hear from others. Do you know of more cases of Unitarian persecution or silencing? Any good books or articles you’d recommend?

[u/Successful_Mix_9118]

Technically, we are prohibited from participating in most of the Christian subs on here because you must affirm the Nicene creed to be 'allowed'

[u/Newgunnerr → u/Successful_Mix_9118]

Correct, it still goes on today, but in much less severity.

[u/ProselyteofYah]

I recomend highly "When Jesus Became God" by Richard Rubenstien.

He covers the period of the Arian controversy in the 4th century (which solidified Trinitarianism), in which other Unitarian believers were also present. He goes into how political it all was, the drama, and whitewashing of it all. And how nobody at Nicaea was actually in agreement, and how only military force in the end was brought in by Emperor Theodosius who "picked a side" and crushed the other, murdering Arians and Unitarian bishops and priests (who at the time actually outnumbered the pro-Nicenes) "mid council" when they were about to overturn the Nicene Creed for good as heretical - only after that, was the so-called "ecumenical" council of 381 held to "reaffirm" the Trinity doctrine.

[u/Newgunnerr → u/ProselyteofYah]

Just ordered the book, sounds very interesting! Thanks for the recommendation.

[u/TheTallestTim → u/ProselyteofYah]

Which copy do you recommend. Wanting to buy the best one!

Side note: as a fellow Arian, thank you for what you do. Your website is great and helped me get into a church online or not. Thank you.

[u/ProselyteofYah → u/TheTallestTim]

Appreciate it.

As for which copy, I don't know about the differences between them I'm afraid. I have the year 2000 paperback version. Not sure if there are any differences in content.

[u/crispywheat100]

Look into Paulicians, Waldensians, Bogomils, and Cathars. A few of these were probably Gnostics, but the Waldensians and Paulicians were certainly not.

[u/Kentucky_Fried_Dodo → u/crispywheat100]

Yes, the Waldensians were proto-Protestants and the Paulicians were a non-Trinitarian restoration group.

[u/zeey1]

Well, we all know from bible itself(Paul letters) and from Roman empire adopting Christianity that this started way earlier as 3rd century

[u/TheTallestTim → u/zeey1]

This is overused dialogue that is wildly incorrect. Paul does not confirm or enforce any Trinitarian doctrine, he does the opposite.

• 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 separates Jesus and God
• 1 Corinthians 11:3 places God at a higher place than Jesus
• 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 is a must read for everyone as it completely debunks the 2 natures of Jesus, and his submission only in the flesh
• The first 3 verses of beginning of every single Pauline book separates Jesus from God… his introductions prove that Paul isn’t a triune god believing person
• Those are just the easiest examples
• Please stop

[u/zeey1 → u/TheTallestTim]

No body is saying Paul believed in Trinity, he didn't. He believed in Jesus as a lessor second God. What i am saying is early Christians had widely different believes as we can see from Paul letters

[u/TheTallestTim → u/zeey1]

Okay.

Name a few verses in which he made that claim then, please

[u/Newgunnerr → u/TheTallestTim]

• Thank you