Which? I mean, which reached the heights of modern day monotheisms, or Zoroastrianism or Dharmic religions?
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Why No Major Western Religions?
- Thread starter Rival
- Start date
I don't know about today, but I spent much of my youth worshipping at the local Dionysus temple...
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Rome and Greece (but especially Rome) reached really, really far and so did their religions at one point.
By the way, other than on this forum, I don't hear about Zoroastrians. Are you a Zoroastrian?
You know many Dharmics here.
Some people call it Hinduism.
Zoroastrianism was a huge religion for hundreds of years over the Persian and Rome Empires.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Do you just mean that specific word?
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I changed my post but yes, I meant that specific word.
Why go to the bother of going to a Roman temple when you can celebrate Saturnalia at pretty much any Christian church?
Christianity is pretty syncretic. It incorporated many "western" elements: Roman religious celebrations, pagan gods (as saints), etc.
The US has a much greater religious spread, I find.
I can't even find Eastern Catholic Churches here.
(London doesn't count).
All these niche religions have a US following not found in the UK.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
It was an Iranian religion.
Yes, an Eastern Religion.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I believe it came from Iran.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
I think people consider the East and the Middle East to be two separate regions though.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Yep, I know exactly where it is - thanks.
Near, Middle, and Far East are all Eastern, tho.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
I suppose it's a matter of perception and where one lives on this globe. Near East was the former term for the Middle East. The Middle East and the (Far) East seem culturally unrelated, as a broad generalisation. How about East Anglia?!
HonestJoe
Well-Known Member
East of what exactly? It would be easier to understand if you recognise that region as more the centre, from where a lot of structured society happened to develop from (for a whole range of geographic, practical and random reasons). As those structured societies spread, they tended to absorb or wipe out the existing cultures, including religion. There were (and continue to be) all sorts of additional factors, influences and random events which led us to where we are today, but this is the underlying core of the answer to your question.
Given my OP specified east of the Americas and Europe, I thought it's obvious.
Northing seems good enough these days. Must all be nitpicked.
I think people here know what I mean.
Abrahamic religions are from the ME.
Dharmic religions are from India, the East.
The Dao and Confucianism are all Far Eastern.
And the West has natively.... what...?
Where are our large scale institutional religions? our ancient philosophies? Sure, Greece had some, what about the Gauls? The Slavs?
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
Specifically, the narrative that Christianity was established in Europe by Roman military might.
You’re aware that the Roman Empire, a thoroughly pagan institution, was already in advanced decline by the time of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity? And that Constantine’s capital wasn’t even Rome, it was the city he named after himself, which is now known as Istanbul (in Asia Minor)?