Christianity as a sect of Judaism

Here is a simple question, perhaps not simple to answer but give it a shot; what if Christianity did not split with Judaism in the first and second centuries, and remained essentially a sect of the religion? Could keeping the two beliefs together be possible, and if so, what would be the consequences?
 
Here is a simple question, perhaps not simple to answer but give it a shot; what if Christianity did not split with Judaism in the first and second centuries, and remained essentially a sect of the religion? Could keeping the two beliefs together be possible, and if so, what would be the consequences?
Christianity embraced several ideas that made reconciliation with mainstream Judaism totally impossible very early on, especially the idea of proselytizing to the gentiles that was embraced to some extent during Jesus own lifetime (if we are to believe the Bible anyways) and again during the Apostolic era. St. Paul was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for reconciliation, as he was anticircumcision, as well as a number of other Jewish traditions. Early Christians also had a habit of blaming the Jews for killing Jesus (sadly one that has resurfaced frequently), so the desire to remain close to the Jews was lacking. Christianity will need to be changed pretty radically in its metaphorical womb if it is to remain close with Judaism, because Christianity as we know it really wasn't going to work out with the jews.
 
Jesus being worshiped as the Messiah seems like a non-starter with other forms of Judaism from the get-go.
 
If Christianity didn't break with Judaism, we could see it remain a minor eastern Religious sect, not gaining the popularity that it did OTL. So farther down the road, we would no doubt see Constantine(or whatever the TTL equivalent of him ends up being) pick another religion to unite the Empire behind.
 
That would never have worked. Jewish people would have never accepted that Christ Jesus was the son of God.

IOTL there were Jewish groups that recognised Jesus as the Messiah, or at least as a very important Rabbi: these continued to exist until quite late, probably well into the sixth century. It's been a while since I read up on these, so I can't give you any names for the groups: but they did definitely exist and flourish in "early Late Antiquity".

Christianity embraced several ideas that made reconciliation with mainstream Judaism totally impossible very early on, especially the idea of proselytizing to the gentiles that was embraced to some extent during Jesus own lifetime (if we are to believe the Bible anyways) and again during the Apostolic era. St. Paul was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for reconciliation, as he was anticircumcision, as well as a number of other Jewish traditions. Early Christians also had a habit of blaming the Jews for killing Jesus (sadly one that has resurfaced frequently), so the desire to remain close to the Jews was lacking. Christianity will need to be changed pretty radically in its metaphorical womb if it is to remain close with Judaism, because Christianity as we know it really wasn't going to work out with the jews.

Leaving aside the fact that "mainstream Judaism" wasn't really a thing in the first and second centuries (a lot of what we recognise as Jewish doctrine now is a late antique reaction to the rise of Christianity), were the Jews really so opposed to proselytising? I have my doubts about this: why else would the Torah have been translated into Greek and Aramaic amongst others in the Hellenistic period if this were so? Why would there be large Jewish communities in Alexandria and elsewhere if this were an insular community?

It's better to see Christianity and Judaism as gradually mutually moving off in different directions in a slow process between the first and fourth centuries, I reckon. There were certainly Christian sects active well after Constantine that were very "Jewish" in outlook, and Jewish sects that venerated Jesus as at least a great teacher, if not more.
 
Even if Christians really try, I don't think mainstream Judaism would accept them as part of their own religion (though early Christians did actually pray in synagogues on occasion), eventually leading to a rift between the two that would lead everyone to recognize Judaism and Christianity as two separate religions.
 
I believe Christianity could easily have remained a Jewish sect, even if it continued to clain Jesus was the "messiah", just not the sort of military leader sort of messiah expected. To do so, it would have to have retained the notion that "to become a follower of Jesus you first had to become a Jew" - require its members to live by the Jewish law. The end result would not be a world religion.
 
IOTL there were Jewish groups that recognised Jesus as the Messiah, or at least as a very important Rabbi: these continued to exist until quite late, probably well into the sixth century. It's been a while since I read up on these, so I can't give you any names for the groups: but they did definitely exist and flourish in "early Late Antiquity".



Leaving aside the fact that "mainstream Judaism" wasn't really a thing in the first and second centuries (a lot of what we recognise as Jewish doctrine now is a late antique reaction to the rise of Christianity), were the Jews really so opposed to proselytising? I have my doubts about this: why else would the Torah have been translated into Greek and Aramaic amongst others in the Hellenistic period if this were so? Why would there be large Jewish communities in Alexandria and elsewhere if this were an insular community?

It's better to see Christianity and Judaism as gradually mutually moving off in different directions in a slow process between the first and fourth centuries, I reckon. There were certainly Christian sects active well after Constantine that were very "Jewish" in outlook, and Jewish sects that venerated Jesus as at least a great teacher, if not more.

In general I assume that urban communities of Jews sprang up by way of immigration, not proselytizing, not unlike today, and while I agree that certain elements of Judaism have definitely been reactions to Christianity, lack of missionaries wasn't one of them. Judaism was very much an ethnic religion, with an emphasis on being descended from the original tribes and a dim outlook on those who weren't. In theory Judaism could have evolved into a proselytizing religion in the event of a different Christianity (in some ways they seemed to be shifting towards that already), but I certainly don't see evidence that they were already one by the time of Christ, and Christians being mega-missionaries probably helped to drive the Jews back to their ethnic roots.

Having Paul never convert would be a good POD.

That would go a long way towards making it happen I'd wager. What could be very interesting then, IMO, is if this Jewish flavored Christianity convinces more mainstream Jews to begin proselytizing, which leads to them becoming a prominent mystery cult and possible Roman state religion rather than Christianity. Imagine Roman sheilds with the Star of David on them:D
 
depends on Jesus ...

Take everything that ocurred and keep it, but have Jesus preech specific points about central Jewish tenants ....

For example have him incorporate circumcision as part of the bridge between the old and new covenants. Have him reject the idea of being messiah ...

The problem is this: without significant OTL events the romans don't kill him, then no martyrdom and it is unlikely a reverence would occur .... but with those events the notion of resurrection arises and this forms part of the basis of the break with judaism.

I still believe the POD has to occur in Jesus's lifetime. Perhaps he could write his own gospel that emphasizes judaism explicitly.
 
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