Good question. A few important differences from OTL are....
1) Radical Islam never really takes off in the middle east. There are bands of Wahhabis in the Sultanate of Arabia but they have no real desire to attack Western targets. What we would call moderate Islamist movements do exist in several countries.
2) Weaker Zionism. While there have been some people who call for a Jewish state, Zionism remains a small fringe movement.
3) Greater anti-Semitism. Without an equivalent to OTL's Holocaust there is relatively less sympathy from gentiles towards Jewish people. As such, anti-Semitism is a little more common in Europe and the Americas than OTL.
4) As mentioned in a previous update. A Vatican II council is held from 1969-1972 by Pope Pius X. It allowed the liturgy to be given in the vernacular, declared support for religious liberty, and redefined the relationship between the Church and non-Catholic states. The Second Vatican Council also strongly condemned secularism and recommitted the church to keeping the Gospel as the centerpiece of modern society.
5) In the United States, there is no "God gap" between the Democrats and Republicans like OTL. In fact the Democrats tend to be marginally more church going than Republicans.
6) Optional and non-denominational prayer in school is legal in the United States, although some school districts do decide not to do it.
7) In the United States, there is a credible "religious left" that wants increased government assistance to the poor and disadvantaged. They are split almost equally between the Republican and Democratic parties. There is still a "religious right" but without the abortion issue they are not nearly as politically active as OTL.
8) In the Technate of China religion is legal but heavily discouraged as “backwards and unscientific.” The Technate does promote a pseudo-religion/philosophy known as Techno-Confucianism which stresses order, loyalty to the government, learning, and meritocracy.
9) While secularism has been growing over the years, overall the TL's 1970s is a more church going place than OTL. This is due to a variety of factors such as the lack of the 1960s counterculture, and a much quieter sexual revolution.
Last edited:
