Tag: #Interfaith

World History Reimagined: Christianity Stays a Jewish Sect

Posted on by charleseduardos

Imagine!

1. The Roman Empire: No State Church, No Crosses on Banners

  • No Constantine’s Conversion: If Christianity remains a Jewish movement, there’s no “Christianization” of Rome in the 4th century. The Roman Empire might stick with its patchwork of pagan cults, or maybe it latches onto something else entirely.
  • No Crusades, No Holy Roman Empire: Without Christianity as a state religion, you don’t get medieval Christendom, crusader armies, or the “Holy Roman Empire.” Europe’s unifying force is more cultural than religious—a wild tapestry, not a monoculture.
  • No Inquisition or Witch Trials: If the Jesus movement never gets power, it doesn’t need to defend it with inquisitions or heresy hunts. Fewer pyres, more discussions.

2. Judaism and Christianity: Frenemies to Family

  • No Antisemitism: The tragic legacy of Christian antisemitism—accusations of “Christ-killers,” pogroms, the Holocaust—never develops if the Jesus movement remains firmly within Judaism. The “othering” that fueled so much violence simply doesn’t have oxygen.
  • Jewish Renewal: Christianity, as a passionate sect within Judaism, could spark periodic spiritual renewals from within—like Chasidism did centuries later. More emphasis on mercy, love, and radical inclusion in the Jewish world.

3. The Western World: Different Foundations

  • No “Christian West” Identity: The myth of “the Christian West” as a civilizational foundation is replaced by a mosaic: more influence from Greek philosophy, Roman law, and diverse religious traditions.
  • Art and Architecture: Imagine cathedrals with more menorahs than statues, and less Gothic spire, more Eastern Mediterranean courtyard. Michelangelo paints Moses and Yeshua side-by-side.
  • Education: Universities may grow out of rabbinic academies, with debate and dialogue at their core—think Talmud study as the model for liberal arts.

4. Global Impact: Gentile Followers, Jewish Roots

  • Gentile Inclusion, but as “Righteous Among Nations”: Gentile followers of Yeshua would be included, but not as a replacement for Israel. Think “honorary family” status—partners in God’s mission, but with humility.
  • No Colonialism in Jesus’ Name: Missions look more like partnerships and dialogue than conquest and colonization. There’s still sharing of good news, but it’s table fellowship, not empire-building.

5. Islam and Interfaith Relations: A Different Story

  • Islam’s Emergence: Islam still arises in the 7th century, but faces a Jewish-Christian fusion rather than a divided landscape. Maybe less antagonism, more theological cross-pollination. Who knows? Jerusalem could become the beating heart of Abrahamic faith collaboration.
  • Interfaith Dialogue: The “People of the Book” idea gets turbocharged—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam see themselves as siblings (with squabbles, but fewer wars).

6. Modernity: No Christian-Nation Politics

  • Secularism Arrives Differently: The rise of secularism isn’t a rebellion against church control, but a natural outgrowth of pluralism and lively debate.
  • Civil Rights and Liberation: Movements for justice and equality might draw on prophetic and Jesus-centered Jewish thought—think MLK quoting Amos and Jesus at the same time.

Quick Takeaways:

  • Fewer religious wars, more religious arguments (which, let’s be honest, are often just as lively).
  • A global family table, not a worldwide throne.
  • The Jewish story is honored and fulfilled, not replaced or erased.
  • Less cultural uniformity, more colorful patchwork.
  • No “us vs. them” Christian identity—just an ever-expanding tent, with a lot of lively discussion under the stars.

Closing Thought:

If Christianity had never broken off from Judaism, history would be less about empires and more about extended family—sometimes arguing, sometimes hugging, always learning. Maybe, just maybe, there’d be a bit more shalom and a bit less sword. And who knows? Maybe the world would have a few more tables, a few fewer thrones, and a lot more questions asked in love.

Ready to dig deeper? I’d love to hear your thoughts and keep the conversation going. After all, family dinners are best when everyone brings something to share.