So, the Chinese rites controversy. The Jesuits saw the possibility of converting China early on. They were looking for a way to synthesize Confucianism and Catholicism in an orthodox manner.
And the other religious orders (Dominicans and Franciscans) didn't like that, thinking the attempt at synthesis was itself heretical.
In OTL, the Dominicans won and the Jesuits were banned from Asia. And Catholicism somewhat lost its foothold on China after increasing persecution by the Qianlong Emperor. And decades later, the Jesuits were suppressed by various states since they were seen as too tied to the pope.
In modern times, the pope's decision was reversed, seeing the Chinese traditions as secular and cultural.
So, could the Jesuits triumph in an alternate scenario? What would this mean for Catholicism in the Far East?
And could this butterfly away the suppression of the Jesuits?
And the other religious orders (Dominicans and Franciscans) didn't like that, thinking the attempt at synthesis was itself heretical.
In OTL, the Dominicans won and the Jesuits were banned from Asia. And Catholicism somewhat lost its foothold on China after increasing persecution by the Qianlong Emperor. And decades later, the Jesuits were suppressed by various states since they were seen as too tied to the pope.
In modern times, the pope's decision was reversed, seeing the Chinese traditions as secular and cultural.
So, could the Jesuits triumph in an alternate scenario? What would this mean for Catholicism in the Far East?
And could this butterfly away the suppression of the Jesuits?