No cruxification

Had a brainwave a few days ago, and have since wondered. What would have happened to Christianity if Jesus weren't cruxified, but rather at some point (might be at the same time, might be somewhat earlier) be banished from the empire, and forced to emigrate east towards the Parthian Empire, and after being shunted a few times, finds a place to settle in the area around ctesiphon (following the Jewish banishment from Babylon in 35CE)
 
Did the Romans banish non-citizens?

The crucifixion and ascension of Jesus Christ is pretty essential to Christianity, so nothing like OTL Christianity could have happened without a similar martyrdom. If Jesus continues his antics in the Parthian Empire and gets himself martyred, perhaps a very similar Christianity could originate in the Parthian Empire... is that what you're asking?

It might actually come back to affect Rome. The Romans loved exotic eastern religions like those of Bacchus, Mithras, Isis, and Jesus. And if it spreads in the Parthian Empire and becomes a more significant religion there than OTL, assuming the Sassanids still conquer them, these Christians are going to have to face Zoroastrian state religion persecution.

Like the Babylon exile parallel, but I'm not sure Jesus would play it up much. He kind of liked to distance himself from old-time Jews.
 
Did the Romans banish non-citizens?

If not at the time, then they did later on when they banished druidic pagans in 54CE and Jews (and Christians, likely because the spilt weren't pronounced enough yet for Rome to notice beyond faint acknowlegdement of unrest within the religion) under Claudius (most likely at the same time but can't find a solid date).

You could always say that Pontius Pilate was more aware, and decided that instead of facing religius unrest, either by cruxifying Jesus or leaving him alone (then the Pharisees would likely revolt) and because he was uncomfortable with cruxifying Jesus (its generally acknowledged that he was weery of that), he picked door number 3 and decided on banishment. Noone is happy, but on the other hand, none have much reason to vermently disargee since the problem is out of their hair.

The crucifixion and ascension of Jesus Christ is pretty essential to Christianity, so nothing like OTL Christianity could have happened without a similar martyrdom. If Jesus continues his antics in the Parthian Empire and gets himself martyred, perhaps a very similar Christianity could originate in the Parthian Empire... is that what you're asking?
Well ... question is if he would continue his antics to a degree that the Parthians single him out.

It might actually come back to affect Rome. The Romans loved exotic eastern religions like those of Bacchus, Mithras, Isis, and Jesus. And if it spreads in the Parthian Empire and becomes a more significant religion there than OTL, assuming the Sassanids still conquer them, these Christians are going to have to face Zoroastrian state religion persecution.
Well ... Bacchus religion was heavily persecuted back in ~180bce, but otherwise tried to absorb religous entries instead of accepting them as is (which would mean that Jesus in that case would likely be one of many, something that doesn't go well with Judaists or early-day christianity).

as for Sassanids, one of their big bones of contestion with the Christians in OTL was that they followed Rome, which was a regular enemy for them, but even then, they allready accepted Christianity (or more specificly Nestorian christianity) as an allowed faith to follow in 409. Without the connections between Christendom and Rome, that might happen much earlier leaving little to no room for a Zoroastrian led persecution.

And even then Zoroastrian and Christianity is that close theologically, that it could certainly be a butterfly that they to some degree merge.
 
So, let's say Jesus' story somehow or other plays out about the same way, and Christianity begins in Parthia.

But I'm not sure Christianity would rise to the forefront among the Parthians. It has to compete with Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and all sorts of Hellenic and Iranian gods, but more importantly, I don't think martyrdom would be as widespread among the Parthians. OTL, martyrdom became an important theme in Christianity, and public martyrdom may have acted as a catalyst for conversion because martyrs' fearlessness impressed people. But the Parthians just weren't as big on huge public displays as the Romans, so the Christians would get much less publicity. It'd probably, as you said, just be considered a weird Jewish or Zoroastrian sect.

The Romans were very accepting of any religion that wasn't a challenge to imperial authority (monotheistic Christians and Jews, rebellious druids), a public menace (druids for human sacrifice and Bacchus' cult for being Bacchus' cult). If Christianity somehow rises to the forefront in the East, the Romans come to see Christianity as a Parthian/Sassanid religion, it may be considered the religion of the enemy and never gain traction in the Empire. Christianity would, in the end, be a predominately Mideastern religion and not a predominately European one. It would also have more trouble surviving in closer contact with... well, if you ignore butterflies, Islam and Mongols, but it'd probably face similar challenges. And Europe, being pagan, may have more trouble advancing from the Dark Ages if and when Rome collapses without the unifying force of Christianity.
 
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