There were fierce quarrels respecting the Trinity, the essence of God, the position of the Son, the nature of the Holy Spirit, the influences of the Virgin Mary.
The triumphant clamor first of one then of another sect was confirmed, sometimes by miracle-proof, sometimes by bloodshed.

No attempt was ever made to submit the rival opinions to logical examination.

All parties, however, agreed in this, that the imposture of the old classical pagan forms of faith was demonstrated by the facility with which they had been overthrown.

The triumphant ecclesiastics proclaimed that the images of the gods had failed to defend themselves when the time of trial came.
Polytheistic ideas have always been held in repute by the southern European races, the Semitic have maintained the unity of God.

Perhaps this is due to the fact, as a recent author has suggested, that a diversified landscape of mountains and valleys, islands, and rivers, and gulfs, predisposes man to a belief in a multitude of divinities.