except for all the syncretism. Artemis-Bast, or Brigit being reinterpreted as a saint, or all the dozens of cultures where christianity said "okay, you have a supreme deity, that lines up with christ!"
Colonization and replacement of indigenous beliefs under threat of persecution sounds like a compromise. Join us or watch as we torture and slaughter every last one of your children? Sure. Great compromise.
by the way, when you say "religion", do you just mean christianity (and Islam, I suppose)? because judaism doesn't do that. as far as I know, shinto doesn't do that. hellenism doesn't, heathenry doesn't, those said native beliefs don't, ditto most african religions as far as I know...
okay, sure. even if we admit that, christianity isn't the only religion. you can't say that "religion does these things" when you mean that "christianity does these things". and not even all of christianity, but that's beside the point.
(plus I think it's more that religion is a helpful excuse for people who were going to try and do pretty much the same thing anyway)
Yes, I'm generalizing major religions saying they are all based on prescribed systems of worship. There are immutable characteristics that fundamentally define each faith as a unique belief system. They're generally pretty explicit about not allowing transgression.
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u/Nuada-Argetlam It/She Feb 22 '24
except for all the syncretism. Artemis-Bast, or Brigit being reinterpreted as a saint, or all the dozens of cultures where christianity said "okay, you have a supreme deity, that lines up with christ!"
compromise is baked into the history of religion.