I have heard of Mithraism, Manichaeism, and the Sol Invictus cult. I have also considered Buddhism and Islam. What are some others I have not heard of?
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Religions that could have replaced Christianity
- Thread starter moistrophile
- Start date
Without Christianity there would be no Islam either. But to answer your question, I think Zoroastrianism might be able to replace Christianity.
Manichaeism was very widespread in Europe and North Africa before the Romans stamped down on it. Even then, it still persisted in the Middle East and Central Asia for many more centuries.
I hate this cliche, Islam already codified as Isa(PUH)message failed at the time
To be fair, OP didn't say Christianity didn't exist, just that it is "replaced" which I assume means the position in the world it had and has today. By that logic, Islam could still come about.
When you are saying replacing Christianity? I presume you mean after Christianity was established as the state religion of the Roman Empire and began to persecute the followers of the various polytheistic religions and stamp it out? Or do you mean if Christianity wasn't around which faith would take its role as the state religion which stamps out the polytheistic religions?
If it is the first then Manicheanism or Islam is possible. If it is the second then none. It would remain a polytheistic world with the different Polytheistic religions and traditions all mixing and mingling. at least IMO.
Remember we have to put our religious beliefs aside and think like secularist for the scenarios otherwise all what if Christianity never existed ei would be like it would since it was God plans
If the Jewish people had been more willing to "marry out" and accept anyone who wished to be Jewish, Judaism might have taken over from paganism as the main religion of Europe instead of Christianity.
Depends about POD. But after Christianity becomes official state religion of Roman Empire, it is basically impossible to replace. It is anyway possible stop spreading of the rlegion outside of Europe and Anatolia. So anywhere else other religions would take the place of Christianity. Even if Muslims win Battle of Tours I can't see Islam spreading futher thatn to Aquitania and Southern France and evne that would be very stretched.
Unfortunately, whatever Julian was trying to achieve, it was not appealing to neither Christians (of course) nor Pagans, just a limited circle of intellectuals close to him and even they were not completely on board with certain aspects of his faith. Honestly, ditch the whole "sacrifices are a must" and his attempts to replicate the hierarchy of the Christians and let them fight against each other (while completely revoking imperial patronage for the Christian clergy), focus on the positive aspects of the old religion (like games, celebrations, common meals etc.) and you might succeed in replacing Christianity without having to create a religious Frankenstein.
If Sabbatai Zevi hadn't recanted his own claim of being Messiah and let himself be martyred by the Ottoman Sultan, I honestly think that Sabbateanism could have repeated the history of the rise of Christianity and made the leap from a 'Jewish movement' and into an evangelical movement.
The Ottoman Empire saw itself as the successor of Rome, so having a new religion rise up and overtake the previous order, maybe even one day having a Sultan convert to the 'new religion' and see the rise of Sabbateanism in both the Ottoman Empire and then spread over the world.
The Ottoman Empire saw itself as the successor of Rome, so having a new religion rise up and overtake the previous order, maybe even one day having a Sultan convert to the 'new religion' and see the rise of Sabbateanism in both the Ottoman Empire and then spread over the world.
Far too late. Christianity and Islame were already so established religion that even if Zevi would had beebn enough of courate to allow the sultan remove his head, his religion hardly would had been very succesful. There might be some millons of followers by 2022 but not anywhere near of Christianity nor Islam.
Mormonism went from a handful of followers to several million in less than a century, Christianity itself went from a tiny cult in the middle of nowhere to the dominate religion of the Roman Empire in 2 centuries.
A successful Sabbateanism would have even more time to grow and spread.