AHC:Missionary-oriented Judaism

samcster94

Banned
Is there a way for Judaism, with any POD, to have a missionary-oriented branch while not resembling Christianity or Islam???
 
Proselytism is frowned upon in Judaism for historical reasons (they were often accused to 'steal' convert from the christians), and some conservative branches still don't recognized conversion.

To revert that, well, you need some massive changes. Maybe a more humane treatment under Roman rule early on: no revolt -> no destruction of the Temple -> no diaspora. The Jews never have the fear of being hunted for their beliefs and stay open to conversions. Note that such changes could easily butterfly Christianism.
 
But christianity (at least the early versions, when it was still seen as a judaic sect) was missionary-oriented judaism.
 
But christianity (at least the early versions, when it was still seen as a judaic sect) was missionary-oriented judaism.

This. The idea of the "New Covenant " being open to all peoples, which could be followed outside and separate from a Judaic social structure (a lot of Mosaic law is built around the making of, or at least assumed you're civicly operating in, a Jewish dominated social circle. Lots of legalistic and ritualistic stuff). You'd need to develop a sect that's easier for isolated or small groups of believers to pull off... preferably one with a direct rather than mediated relation between man and god in terms of obligations
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
Very interesting but also not very easy! For all we know,the original Jews might have come from today's Southern Turkey and were a mix of Mesopotamian Semitic,Hurrian,Urartians,historical Basque like ethnicities and probably other Caucasians,a bit of Indo-Aryan Mitanni(Going by History of the ME and how Jews from ME-NA look;may be a bit different) and . So Judaism is founded there and gets a firm hold in these close living peoples. It could create a coagulated Jewish Empire containing Southern Turkey,former Mitanni,South Historical Armenia,Levant and Israel,they would probably grow quite strong within Middle East first eventually taking over Babylonia and Hittite regions. This would lay a foundation of Jewish expansion towards various directions. But such a religion would have to come closer to Zoroastrian Monotheism rather than the OTL Abrahamic monotheism. I think OTL Judaism was so strict because of their small size originally. Other incentives might be thought of to spread Judaism to other places. If they could secure their origin point,sky is the limit. Probably,in that case,we might have seen the survival of Anatolians,Hattics,Basque like Ethnicities,Urartians,Hurrians,other Language isolate speaking Caucasian peoples. Interesting timeline I'd say!
 
And when the Jews left Egypt under Moses, a "mishmash" of people joined them. Hell, Moses' gf was Kushite, i.e. black.
 
Hellenistic Judaism WAS what you're asking for, or a reasonable facsimile. Most of the early converts to Christianity were converts to Judaism and Godfearers (people who liked the idea of the One God, but, e.g. didn't want surgery done on sensitive parts).

The turning in and avoiding proselytization was likely, as mentioned above, blow back from Christianity once it became dominant.

If Christianity didn't arise, some other sect of Judaism might very well have figured out a slightly relaxed version that could continue propagating through the Roman Empire. In fact, in a 'no Christianity' AH, Judaism in some form is, IMO, the front runner for an official religion of the Empire, nosing ahead of Mithraism and the various Eastern mystery cults.

Such a Judaism would be even more proselytic than that of the time of (OTL) Jesus.
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
And when the Jews left Egypt under Moses, a "mishmash" of people joined them. Hell, Moses' gf was Kushite, i.e. black.
Exodus isn't a literal story as per scientific and archeological history.
Yes admixture like that exists for every group in warm or hospitable regions. But considering where the Base population originated(Southern Anatolia,North Central Mesopotamia,Caucasus and Levant),that's what I am talking about how a strong Jewish foundation could start. Later these ethnicities in the Birthplace of Judaism who could be connected with it were absorbed into Persian,Greek,Babylonian,etc populations.
 
But today we have genetics. People seem to like to learn who their ancestors were. And there are interesting results - like North Africans and Near Easterners having less Arabic genes than is assumed.
 
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Albert.Nik

Banned
But today we have genetics. People seem to like to learn who their ancestors were. And there are interesting results - like North Africans and Near Easterners having less Arabic genes then is assumed.
Near East is quite mixed. The base being from Caucasus,Anatolia,parts of Europe and Levant is true and admixture of various other peoples is existent.
 

Kaze

Banned
There might be problems with conversations -- "You want to do what with my son's private parts? No, thank you. I think I will stay my current pagan religion."
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
There might be problems with conversations -- "You want to do what with my son's private parts? No, thank you. I think I will stay my current pagan religion."
In an ATL,they might have not be that strict. Refer my post #5 on this thread.
 
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