[IMRight]

Some did, some didn't. That's the point. Before the Church formally declares a dogma, it is not binding on the faithful. Those who did not were wrong, for sure. But there is a difference between being in error prior to a formal declaration, and persisting in error afterward. One is a mistake, the other a sin.

First of all... there were something like 17 out of hundreds... (I guess that's "some").

What you're missing here is the two ways that such pronouncements are made. One is to combat heresy. To make sure there is an official pronouncement on false teachings. Such teaching were heresy (not just "incorrect") prior to the council. The second is to clarify areas of confussion (as with the issue with Mary you cited).

You could not believe that Jesus was just some nice guy with great ideas simply because it was the year 200 and Nicea hadn't happened yet.

Nicaea also gave instruction on how to reconcile and readmit the Novatianist scimatics. They didn't say "this is declared as sin... so you need to reconcile IF you continue believing this after the date we close this council".

The issue here is WHAT is being declared and WHY. The divinity of Christ was not a "new thing" first true at Nicaea... nor was it acceptable to believe this PRIOR to Nicaea.

[SoothingDave]

There is a difference between being in error prior to a formal declaration, and persisting in error afterward.

SD

[OLD REGGIE]

First of all... there were something like 17 out of hundreds... (I guess that's "some").

This should be easy for you to document. I'll wait patiently.