WI: Alexander Sevesus builds his temple to Jesus

Rome was full of mad religious cults at the time-elagabalus and his worship of the sungod was just an example. I fancy that this may well discredit christianity in a way, making it seem like yet another crackpot eastern cult that would probibly lead to severus being assasinated ( as OTL) and christianity being sidlined once again. Then again, it may lead to more exceptence and christians playing a more major role in the upcomiong 3rd centuary crisis. The thing is, with Althistory its difficult to imagin people faith, or reaction to a new faith. Thats the problem with the new TL i've just started on no constantine and boy, thats going to become confusing.

Whatever though, i doubt it will lead to an early conversion of an emperor and early standardissation of christianity. So not much in the long run-but with religious butterflies......well anything could happen.

My TLs:
Ad vindictam deorum: The assasination of Constantine

and A brave new world: Dinosaurs not quite wiped out...E]

The crackpot cult is actually what partially inspired me. I'm not suggested Alexander convert or makes Jesus Supreme God of the Roman Pantheon (though Jesus King of the Gods sounds awesome:D). I doubt building a temple would really cause his overthrow. After all, as U said, Rome had lost of cults and they were fairly accepted. By accepted I mean Rome was fine with the weird gods being worshiped as long as know one pulled an Elagabalus.
 
You'd probably get a much more pagan Christianity in this case as the Emperor encourages some degree of compatibility with the existing Pantheon as a driving force in the standardization of orthodox Christianity. I predict Jesus gives a sermon about how Zeus and Yahweh are the same, and the lesser Roman deities become saints or angels. The earlier Christianity is accepted by the empire, the more influence the empire will have over its formation.
 
Weren't there Jews who worshiped Zeus Sabazios and identified him with Yahweh? Maybe this could provide a precedent for understanding Yahweh as the Jewish form of Zeus, and Jesus as one of his many children, perhaps sent to usher in a new aeon or greater enlightenment/understanding of the gods (ie, now worship only Zeus) or something.
 
BAG! Why should the proud Roman worship one more of the wierd, oriental gods. To insinuate that this Jesus is a prodigy if noble Iuppiter offends my conservative values. Just like those Bacchites.
 
You'd probably get a much more pagan Christianity in this case as the Emperor encourages some degree of compatibility with the existing Pantheon as a driving force in the standardization of orthodox Christianity. I predict Jesus gives a sermon about how Zeus and Yahweh are the same, and the lesser Roman deities become saints or angels. The earlier Christianity is accepted by the empire, the more influence the empire will have over its formation.

I sincerely doubt that. I don't see how the Christians would be interested in compromising on theological matters as extreme as that.
 
Weren't there Jews who worshiped Zeus Sabazios and identified him with Yahweh? Maybe this could provide a precedent for understanding Yahweh as the Jewish form of Zeus, and Jesus as one of his many children, perhaps sent to usher in a new aeon or greater enlightenment/understanding of the gods (ie, now worship only Zeus) or something.

I wonder if that would be possible. I mean It sounds really cool and would be a peaceful combination of the Roman State Religion and Christianity while keeping roman traditions.


I sincerely doubt that. I don't see how the Christians would be interested in compromising on theological matters as extreme as that.

Well what was the theology of early Christianity? I mean besides Jesus as Son of God and I think Mary as Mother of God (not sure when that was fully adapted). Like Velasco said some worshiped Yahweh as their version of Zeus so maybe Jesus could be worshiped the Jewish version of a son of Zeus like Apollo or something like that. Very unlikely but possible for some Christians, especially if the Temple to Jesus is built. Though personally, I this thread got me thinking if a surviving Alexander Severus would mean no Crisis of the Third Century?
 
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