
Originally Posted by
jon1959
Interesting theory.
Mine is that there were a number of charismatic leaders of groups trying to overthrow the Roman occupation and several charismatic leaders who (for a time) were allowed by the Romans to undermine their message and effectiveness.
'Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's' (pay your taxes and stop moaning or rebelling) and telling people to keep their heads down because they will get their reward once they are dead, would be music to the ears of the Roman colonial administration.
Put a load of magic mushrooms and other mind altering drugs into the mix - along with an oral tradition of borrowed myths and prophesies - and you have a new cult convinced of supernatural events. By an accident of history this cult becomes the religion of the Roman Empire and we end up with the legacy of that today.