Jerry Bentley Quote

"Large conversions only took place when powerful political, social or economic incentives encouraged it and even then it led universally to syncretism rather than outright adoption of foreign cultural tradition."
The quote is for the most part very accurate। Most powerful religions eventually spread and syncretized throughout other areas. Christianity in the western world spread vastly through Europe and through some parts of Africa and western Asia. Through the very powerful Roman government republic, or through the large amount of slaves that took up most of the Roman population, or through Rome's agricultural advancements to have an increased economy, Christianity was able to syncretize to large areas through Rome and the rest of the European area. Also, Buddhism spread greatly through India and north into China and other parts of Asia. India at the time of Buddhisms' spreading, had a powerful government and economy, as the Romans did during Christianity spreading. Along with Christianity, Buddhism spread through India and Asia by missionairies converting people to Buddhism, as they had in Christianity. During Asoka's reign in India, he had ruled for a large part with Buddhism. He sent Buddhist missionaries into India and Asia, converting people to Buddhism. Both of the syncretisms of Christianity and Buddhism occured with powerful empires with great political, social, and economic systems.