alternatehistory.com

This one actually has two points of divergances. The first deals with King Henry the VII's Dissolution of the Monastaries, in which Henry the 8th came into conflict with the Catholic Church. The motivating factors were more political than religious - The King wanted a wife who would bear him a son to carry a family name, and the Church wouldn't let him divorce. There was also greed- The King, the Gentry, and the Parlaiment all wanted a Piece of the Church's fortune. The result was a drastic cutback in the Church's ower, and the solidifying of Royalty's power over these "representatives of God." Imagine what it would have been like had this not happened, or was not as complete - what shape our world would take had Henry the 8th lost his struggle with the Church. My guess it would that Europe would have a Christian Shariah, A Theocracy where Church and State were the same.
This is the POD.

Then fast foward to what would be our modern era, where an Information Revolution is taking place. The Catholic Church struggles to keep it's hegemony, as many other groups are empowered by the emerging infotech.
Instead of the Internet, you have the Godweb, which is policed by the Church. There is a conflict between Rebel Factions hidden in various pockets of the Godweb; including Humanists, Heretic Sects of Christianity, and the like. It is Cyberpunk, but instead of Corporations, you have a Theocracy. What do you think?
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