WI: Germanic tribes never adopt Arian Christianity?

If the Germanic tribes had remained pagan up to and through their conquest of the Western Roman Empire, would the Christian populace have risen up against them? (Instead of somewhat welcoming their rule due to lower taxes as in OTL).
 
It would really depend upon the tribes' relationship with the Church after their conquest. If they give the church autonomy and don't try to oppress the Christians, I could certain see the Roman population going along with it for the time being. In some ways, relations might even be better; dealing with heathens is often easier for people than dealing with heretics (those who SHOULD belong to our group, but don't! And that's offensive and dangerous!) If they, on the other hand, attempt to crush Christianity, then they would have the mother of all invasions/rebellions going on.

Now, the problem of course, is that Christianity is the region's prestige faith and the 'door' into Greco-Roman culture and civility and the Germanic leadership are going to want everything that comes with it to legitimize their own rule. So I suspect you would still see the leadership convert to Christianity in fairly short order. Furthermore, especially for groups like the Ostrogoths, it will be even more important because being Pagan is just asking for the Eastern Emperor to suddenly decide he hears the groans and cries of the oppressed Christians of the West.
 
Arian Christianity was used by the Germanic tribes to define themselves against the Roman world, though. Converting to Christianity was one thing, but Arianism helped to preserve elite group identity in the face of an overwhelming Roman culture.

Without it, what do the Germans use to define themselves? Either they find something else, or they Romanize to a much greater degree - which would be something of a feat, given how much they embraced Roman customs OTL.

I doubt the Christian populace would rise up against them, purely because the Germans would convert as soon as politically necessary. If they, for some reason, refuse to do so they're locking themselves out of avenues of political advancement.
 
Arian Christianity was used by the Germanic tribes to define themselves against the Roman world, though. Converting to Christianity was one thing, but Arianism helped to preserve elite group identity in the face of an overwhelming Roman culture.

Without it, what do the Germans use to define themselves? Either they find something else, or they Romanize to a much greater degree - which would be something of a feat, given how much they embraced Roman customs OTL.

I doubt the Christian populace would rise up against them, purely because the Germans would convert as soon as politically necessary. If they, for some reason, refuse to do so they're locking themselves out of avenues of political advancement.

The counter-example, of course, is England where paganism survived for quite some time before conversion. However, I always suspected that Britain's isolation, and the fact that Christianity was the faith of an actual enemy played a large part in that.
 
Arian Christianity was used by the Germanic tribes to define themselves against the Roman world, though. Converting to Christianity was one thing, but Arianism helped to preserve elite group identity in the face of an overwhelming Roman culture.

Without it, what do the Germans use to define themselves? Either they find something else, or they Romanize to a much greater degree - which would be something of a feat, given how much they embraced Roman customs OTL.

I doubt the Christian populace would rise up against them, purely because the Germans would convert as soon as politically necessary. If they, for some reason, refuse to do so they're locking themselves out of avenues of political advancement.

Not exactly. They converted to the creed espoused by the Emperor at the time that missionaries were sent to them.
 
Not exactly. They converted to the creed espoused by the Emperor at the time that missionaries were sent to them.

Sure, but the question the OP posted was regarding post-conquest of the Roman Empire. Despite the improbability of the Germanic pagans remaining that way, I tried to address how they'd either need something to define themselves against the Romans or would probably assimilate quickly.
 
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