Includes bibliographical references (p. [237]-240) and index

An incident in Alexandra -- The silence of Apollo -- A quarrel in God's house -- The great and holy council -- Sins of the body, passions of the mind -- The broken chalice -- Death in Constantinople -- East against West -- The Arian Empire -- Old Gods and new -- When Jesus became God

"Three hundred years after Jesus' crucifixion, the Roman Empire witnessed the first major turning point in the history of Christianity. The violent debate, now known as the Arian Controversy, lasted more than sixty years, dividing the Roman Empire and forever changing the face of the Christian Church. Was Jesus of Nazareth God Himself, walking the earth in human form? Or was he a uniquely holy man adopted by God as His Son and raised to divine rank?" "Richard E. Rubenstein, an expert on religious conflict, transports us to an empire fraught with contradiction and turmoil." "The protagonists were Arius, a learned and eloquent priest, and Athanasius, a brilliant and dedicated, yet violent, bishop. Arius argued that Jesus was less than God and that his true role was to serve as a model of virtue for all humanity. Athanasius thought this was heresy and an assault on Jesus himself. Between these formidable adversaries stood Constantine the Great, Rome's first Christian emperor." "Rubenstein brings us into the debates of religious leaders and politicians and the struggles of commoners as we witness the battle over the true identity of Jesus Christ and the meaning of his mission on earth."--BOOK JACKET