WI: Slavic Pagan Russia?

yoyo

Banned
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A Vajrayana Buddhist Russia. This is something
 
While I know this thread is about a pagan Rus state, I'd find it fascinating if the Rus would hold on to paganism, only to convert to Buddhism under the Mongols, in part to delineate their own culture in contrast to the surrounding ones. A constant Buddhist influence on Eastern Europe could lead to all sorts of mayhem.

It might not be an either/or thing in this scenario. Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that Buddhism tends to be less strict about religious exclusivism than the Abrahamic faiths. Perhaps Russia adopts a brand of Buddhism amenable and even complementary to their reformed, organized paganism.
 
It might not be an either/or thing in this scenario. Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that Buddhism tends to be less strict about religious exclusivism than the Abrahamic faiths. Perhaps Russia adopts a brand of Buddhism amenable and even complementary to their reformed, organized paganism.
You are correct. Buddhism happily coexists withother religions and does not demand exclusive belief, which is why most Japanese can be, and are, simultaneously believers in Buddhism and Shinto.
 
You are correct. Buddhism happily coexists withother religions and does not demand exclusive belief, which is why most Japanese can be, and are, simultaneously believers in Buddhism and Shinto.

And why Mahayana is a thing, as it combined Buddhism and Chinese polytheism and other Chinese beliefs.
 
My opinion is that rather than defeating the Khazars and forming a link with the byzantines, the Rus' states focus more on political and cultural consolidation and development.
The problem with this is isolated Rus would just be one of dozens ethnic groups in Modern Russia. They would just be minor pagan tribe like Mordvin.

Successful Nation need many things : trade deal with surrounding people, victory in war against surrounding people, cultural achievement to attract member of surrounding tribes to join. Rus nation itself born to maintain Baltic-Black sea trade route and resist Khazar custom duties.

Isolated Rus would be dislodged from this lucrative trade route, they would be target by surrounding monotheistic tribes, and their citizens would desert to join richer people.
 
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