NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, here we go with yet another alternate history thread. I'm not a Christian myself, but even the most skeptical of athiests has to admit that Jesus has had a tremendous impact on history and culture. What do you think the world be like now if Jesus had never been born? Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that a similar figure did not come along and fill that role.

No Christianity, no Roman Catholic Church, no Inquisition, no Crusades, (no Islam?)....

Whaddya think?

Judaism would have become the dominant force, and the haulocaust would've been against another group.

Judaism would have become the dominant force, and the haulocaust would've been against another group.

I doubt it. The Jews aren't the most evangelistic group.

I doubt it. The Jews aren't the most evangelistic group.

Something'd have to fill the void.

God would of ended the Earth because man was too evil as is her hobby

Shit man... Too many variables to consider. If we look to present day, it'd probably be something along the lines of Judiasm being the major world faith, with a possible world-wide Judiast Empire of God. Just my theory.

The Romans and the Mongols would've fought for world domination... and lost. The Jews would've taken over and Israel would be located in England. :D

Well, here we go with yet another alternate history thread. I'm not a Christian myself, but even the most skeptical of athiests has to admit that Jesus has had a tremendous impact on history and culture. What do you think the world be like now if Jesus had never been born? Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that a similar figure did not come along and fill that role.

No Christianity, no Roman Catholic Church, no Inquisition, no Crusades, (no Islam?)....

Whaddya think?

gee if jesus had never been born i guess someone would have had to INVENT HIM.....


*innocent look*

i reckon hinduism in all it's myriad variants would have become the dominant religious theme with buddhism being the same fad religion it is now.

Mithraism, at least at the upper-class, aristocratic level.

Otherwise, you would probably have had a much more pantheistic Europe.

Simple:

Brian. :)

Something'd have to fill the void.
Zoroastrianism/Mithraism. The Persion monotheistic cults were very popular in Rome at the time, and it was one of the great marketing achievements in history that the Christians managed to pull that support into their camp (usually by changing their own story a bit, like they did later to get the Barbarians...)

I mean, the time was ripe for people to believe in the sort of saviour cult that the Christians brought along.

And all this is assuming that none of the other Messiahs that frequented Jerusalem at the time could have managed to duplicate what Jesus did.

Who knows?

Well, here we go with yet another alternate history thread. I'm not a Christian myself, but even the most skeptical of athiests has to admit that Jesus has had a tremendous impact on history and culture. What do you think the world be like now if Jesus had never been born? Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that a similar figure did not come along and fill that role.

No Christianity, no Roman Catholic Church, no Inquisition, no Crusades, (no Islam?)....

Whaddya think?

We'd probably be bashing the Sol Invictus freaks instead of bashing Bible-thumpers.

Why wouldn't greco-roman paganism become a major, if not dominant religion?

The only reason it died out was when constantine saw christ and decided to try to bring his message home....

We'd probably be bashing the Sol Invictus freaks instead of bashing Bible-thumpers.

I'd still be drinking too much, only there wouldn't be mormons telling me I'm going to hell for booze. After all, the Romans had a wine God!

Are we wiping out all of his previous linege too?

Umm... We'd "live in a different year"
And there would be no Christmas, wich you atheists shouldn't celebrate anyway.

Umm... We'd "live in a different year"
And there would be no Christmas, wich you atheists shouldn't celebrate anyway.

Aww... Son of a.... Monitored

Umm... We'd "live in a different year"
And there would be no Christmas, wich you atheists shouldn't celebrate anyway.

Christmas, Happy Present Day, whatever. Give me presents.

Ok, let's see. Without christianity, The roman empire wouldn't have become christian. Is that a big deal, sort of not really. It still would have fallen., But the barbarians who knocked it down would stick to celticism. Because it is a primitve and crappy religion it would have been quickly been replaced by the most populous and advanced religion at hand. That would have been the Roman Pantheon. Now would Islam have been formed. Maybe, probably not. Let's say no. With no major evangelistic religion about to work its magic on the people.. buddhism would have spread to the middle east. Buddhism spreads well. Plus there was a period when all of india was buddhist too (mauryan empire), so it could have travelled then.However I don't think that it would make it all of the way to Europe, as they would have become too rich by then to accept ideas from a poor eastern group. Speaking of which, would feudalism even of arose? I think so, but different. There would be no filial inheritance of monarchy, and quite possibly republics could be found. Furthermore, science would be developing much quicker then it did when the catholics had their hands around it's throat. European culture would annex the middle east with their superior technology. With the middle-east out of the way, they would be in direct contact with China to learn the secrets of gunpowder. By the year 1200 they would have the level of technology we had in the year 1800. Religion would be on the decline, people would be becoming discontent. They would most probably adopt Buddhism from the Chinese and put their own spin on it. Realistically by this point they would have discovered most of the western world. Also, because of a nearby competitor of equal measure, China would probably be pushed into competition, rather thanisolated arrogance. As such I would imagine they would have stepped up their imperialism in south-eas asia and probably discovered and colonised Australia. Remember I am speaking cultrally so far, lets bring us up to date politically. The west would be fragmented with all of it's different cultral groups and such, this infighting would have produced a lot of technological advancement, though. However, because european civilisation is now adjaxcent to China, they would have awoken the sleeping giant that was china. Luckily for the european states, China wouldn't have been quite as developed as them (becuase of their post rome science boom). However lucky for China, the west won't be so advanced that they can come along and colonise.As such, China will get into action and quickly catch up to the west. As it annexes the rest of asia it grows in power, and has the culture/infrastructure to manage it. Much like rome, it would establish two capitals, one in Australia, and one back in China. One by one it would crush the Europeans states with it's superior force size and equal technology. By the year 1500, China will have conquered all of Europe, and be at a similar technological level as we are today (though having discovered somethings we haven't ,and having yet to discover some things we have. If there is anything China does have, it's people, and they would ship colonists all over Europe.Eventually there would be a chinese world-state, based upon peace, social obedience and respect (combinations of chinese culture and Buddhist influence).Because of the fact that there was only one super-power by the time nuculear capabilities came about, they probably wouldn't be massively produced. Furthermore, we can expect the medicinally inclined Chinese culture to have made huge steps medically (further than we have now) and they would probably understand the effects of radiation comprehensively. Unfortunately, the Chinese are also somewhat racist, and I expect a racial hierachy to form. Furthermore, I expect the Chinese to commit some kind of genocide on the Africans, rather than having them sully the 'han' race. Beyond that I am not sure.

So in summary, there will be a chinese world-state by the year 1500, with levels of technology similar to our own today.

Ok, let's see. Without christianity, The roman empire wouldn't have become christian. Is that a big deal, sort of not really. It still would have fallen., But the barbarians who knocked it down would stick to celticism. Because it is a primitve and crappy religion it would have been quickly been replaced by the most populous and advanced religion at hand. That would have been the Roman Pantheon. Now would Islam have been formed. Maybe, probably not. Let's say no. With no major evangelistic religion about to work its magic on the people.. buddhism would have spread to the middle east. Buddhism spreads well. Plus there was a period when all of india was buddhist too (mauryan empire), so it could have travelled then.However I don't think that it would make it all of the way to Europe, as they would have become too rich by then to accept ideas from a poor eastern group. Speaking of which, would feudalism even of arose? I think so, but different. There would be no filial inheritance of monarchy, and quite possibly republics could be found. Furthermore, science would be developing much quicker then it did when the catholics had their hands around it's throat. European culture would annex the middle east with their superior technology. With the middle-east out of the way, they would be in direct contact with China to learn the secrets of gunpowder. By the year 1200 they would have the level of technology we had in the year 1800. Religion would be on the decline, people would be becoming discontent. They would most probably adopt Buddhism from the Chinese and put their own spin on it. Realistically by this point they would have discovered most of the western world. Also, because of a nearby competitor of equal measure, China would probably be pushed into competition, rather thanisolated arrogance. As such I would imagine they would have stepped up their imperialism in south-eas asia and probably discovered and colonised Australia. Remember I am speaking cultrally so far, lets bring us up to date politically. The west would be fragmented with all of it's different cultral groups and such, this infighting would have produced a lot of technological advancement, though. However, because european civilisation is now adjaxcent to China, they would have awoken the sleeping giant that was china. Luckily for the european states, China wouldn't have been quite as developed as them (becuase of their post rome science boom). However lucky for China, the west won't be so advanced that they can come along and colonise.As such, China will get into action and quickly catch up to the west. As it annexes the rest of asia it grows in power, and has the culture/infrastructure to manage it. Much like rome, it would establish two capitals, one in Australia, and one back in China. One by one it would crush the Europeans states with it's superior force size and equal technology. By the year 1500, China will have conquered all of Europe, and be at a similar technological level as we are today (though having discovered somethings we haven't ,and having yet to discover some things we have. If there is anything China does have, it's people, and they would ship colonists all over Europe.Eventually there would be a chinese world-state, based upon peace, social obedience and respect (combinations of chinese culture and Buddhist influence).Because of the fact that there was only one super-power by the time nuculear capabilities came about, they probably wouldn't be massively produced. Furthermore, we can expect the medicinally inclined Chinese culture to have made huge steps medically (further than we have now) and they would probably understand the effects of radiation comprehensively. Unfortunately, the Chinese are also somewhat racist, and I expect a racial hierachy to form. Furthermore, I expect the Chinese to commit some kind of genocide on the Africans, rather than having them sully the 'han' race. Beyond that I am not sure.

So in summary, there will be a chinese world-state by the year 1500, with levels of technology similar to our own today.

Writing was also kept up by Christian Monks during the dark ages. They may have developed Paragraph Technology. ;)

Some other monotheistic cult would have taken over, and the world at large would be much the same as it is now.
However, my world would be a much darker and sadder place without the capacity to say "Jesus Christ on a Bicycle!", "Jesus Fucking Christ", or variants thereof.
I suppose I could technically still say them, even if their had been no Jesus, but it would really take the point away from taking his name in vain, wouldn't it?

Writing was also kept up by Christian Monks during the dark ages. They may have developed Paragraph Technology. ;)
Meh, paragraphs are for losers who like to use their right pinky. Besides they say it gives you cancer. If the chinese were a dominant power, they'd probably be able to verify that wild claim. ;)

Some other itinerant rabbi would have taken his place.

Umm... We'd "live in a different year"
And there would be no Christmas, wich you atheists shouldn't celebrate anyway.

What makes Christmas any more Christian than Halloween? ;)
Saying "the clue's in the name will NOT win any points"

Jesus died for our sins didn't he? So without him God would have gotten so pissed off that he would have wiped us all out. Permenantly this time, no Ark to save a chosen few.

Something'd have to fill the void.

Paganism would probably still be reigning strong, or atheism.

Umm... We'd "live in a different year"
And there would be no Christmas, wich you atheists shouldn't celebrate anyway.

It's not just a religious holiday, Christmas has many traditions that have nothing to do with your religion.

If christianity wasn't around then Father Christmas wouldn't be either! :eek:
Or maybe he would but instead of delivering his presents on the night before Christ was born, he'll travel the world on the night of some other religious holiday...

Hehe...I don't care. I've been a good girl this year. :D

It's not just a religious holiday, Christmas has many traditions that have nothing to do with your religion.

If christianity wasn't around then Father Christmas wouldn't be either! :eek:
Or maybe he would but instead of delivering his presents on the night before Christ was born, he'll travel the world on the night of some other religious holiday...

Hehe...I don't care. I've been a good girl this year. :D

Oh puhlease...You have been a very naughty girl. Now go to my room ;)

Oh puhlease...You have been a very naughty girl. Now go to my room ;)

:eek:

You're creepy!

:eek:

You're creepy!

But of course!:D

Nobody would say "Jesus!" or "Jesus Christ!"

Well, here we go with yet another alternate history thread. I'm not a Christian myself, but even the most skeptical of athiests has to admit that Jesus has had a tremendous impact on history and culture. What do you think the world be like now if Jesus had never been born?

He would have been made up. Some people claim that is already the case now - there is after all no contemporary evidence of his existence. Everything was written well after his supposed death.

Probably an Asian-dominant world. The New World might have been discovered later and settled by Asians. Jews would continue to absorb pagans and such and it would grow into a balance. Eventually, things would get more cultured. the Roman Empire probably would have lasted longer as well.

Well, here we go with yet another alternate history thread. I'm not a Christian myself, but even the most skeptical of athiests has to admit that Jesus has had a tremendous impact on history and culture. What do you think the world be like now if Jesus had never been born? Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that a similar figure did not come along and fill that role.

No Christianity, no Roman Catholic Church, no Inquisition, no Crusades, (no Islam?)....

Whaddya think?

Things would have gone exactly the same except all the stories borrowed from other religions would have a different guy's name attached to them and the religion would be called something like Lucism, Issaiahism, Bobism, or whatever the randomly chosen, but ultimatly interchangable street preacher from the previous generation was chosen as the posterboy.

I'd still be drinking too much, only there wouldn't be mormons telling me I'm going to hell for booze. After all, the Romans had a wine God!

So do the Christians. i.e. Christ.