DBWI: Surviving Christendom

Once the unifying creed of the Roman Empire and many of its successor states Christianity's fortunes dwindled after the fall of Rome. These days Christianity remains a very minor world religion. The smallest of the Abrahamic faiths (at least according to some interpretations) it is heavily fractured and mostly relegated to the Northern Mediterranean and British Isles and often little more than a plurality in the regions where it is strongest. Yet such a state-of-affairs is not, as certain hack historians and preachers have maintained, inevitable. In the centuries following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire Christianity was able to thrive and even expand at times before Christendom as a whole stalled and was driven back.

How could the collapse of Christendom have been prevented and what would the world look like as a result?
 
The Frank's looked to be the standard bearers of the faith and were arguing with the Saxons (in Saxony). Of course, if they had just been fighting Saxony they might have won. Instead Wikund had all of Scandinavia with him.

That and the Raiders using longships, effectively "widening the front" across the all along and England starting in the 750's really weakened the Empire.

I also think the Conquerer did a really good job of underminding Christianity. I mean once the churches we're burnt and there were regular sacrifices to Thor ( to attract the common people) people naturally gravitated to having a "choice" without the spiritual blackmail involved. Personally I think this is natural and I don't think any of Abrahamic Faiths can compete against polytheism except in the very special circumstances. I mean, look at the spread of Aesir worship to Spain, Italy, North Africa and Vinland and how Hinduism, Buddhism and Neo Zoroastrianism are dominant in Persia and into Iraq. I mean, Judaism is strong because it's essentially a tribal religion, but Islam has been loosing ground for centuries to more enlightened faiths as well.
 
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