Buddhism in India?

[aware of emptiness]

What if Buddhism does not go into decline in India and instead becomes a well-established religion there?

[Flocculencio]

It might work if a sect of Buddhism developed which was interested in forceful proselytisation. The trouble is that India tends to digest everything and slot it into the general Hindu worldview (as happened with Buddhism in OTL). You'd need a huge societal upheaval across the entire continent.

Or perhaps a plague of some sort might arise some time after the death of the Buddha that pretty much destroys the social structure (i.e. the caste system) allowing the Buddhist missionaries to sieze the initiative and spread their word.

[Leej]

Maybe have buddhism activly going out of its way to point out how worshipping gods is silly rather then just their OTL 'meh'?

[The Ubbergeek]

That would REMOVE followers.

Indiam believes tend to be very open - there was some atheist, materialist philosophies, but they would not like something agressively derinding.

The opposite would work.

[Leej]

That would REMOVE followers.

Indiam believes tend to be very open - there was some atheist, materialist philosophies, but they would not like something agressively derinding.

The opposite would work.
It didn't remove followers for the western religions.

[Flocculencio]

Indiam believes tend to be very open - there was some atheist, materialist philosophies, but they would not like something agressively derinding.

This is why you need a massive society upheaving catastrophe like a plague as I said earlier. If the socio-religious system is completely broken, people will be more willing to listen to the Buddhists whose casteless philosophy would be seen as an asset.

[NapoleonXIV]

Throughout most of history religion hasn't been chosen by people, but rather for them by their leaders. If people's choice was a big factor then most Untouchables would have converted to Buddhism long ago (as several million did in a massive protest just a few years gone).

Buddhism has always had a disadvantage here as it's poor on lending itself to social control. It's only gained ascendancy in countries where the government already has instititutions in place whereby the rulers keep power.

[aware of emptiness]

The rise of Islam, was that a major factor in the decline of Buddhism in India?

[The Ubbergeek]

In the north, yes. The muslims raised the temples and monastaires of all 'pagans', and so contribuated to their declines.

[Fabilius]

Throughout most of history religion hasn't been chosen by people, but rather for them by their leaders. If people's choice was a big factor then most Untouchables would have converted to Buddhism long ago (as several million did in a massive protest just a few years gone).

Buddhism has always had a disadvantage here as it's poor on lending itself to social control. It's only gained ascendancy in countries where the government already has instititutions in place whereby the rulers keep power.

There was one great king that converted though, shortly after Buddha´s death?

[The Ubbergeek]

The local Alexander, Ashoka the great emperor, was one of the most famous convert of antiquity. He lived... Some times after the Buddha's death. I can't remember, sadly.