Religion (Plato Succeeds)

Religion is a complex issue in Plato Succeeds. Officially, Platonism is not a religion but more of an ethical code and government constitution. However like Confucianism it can be considered a religion in it's own right. In the Middle East and Western Europe.

Christianity
Christianity is more or less the same, though the New Testament is considered more important. Anything unutopian in the Old Testament is dismissed in the "light of new evidence" while the New Testament was carefully chosen. The Gospel of Matthew lacks 5:17-21 as it places emphasis on the Old Testament, while the letters from Paul to Timothy are missing altogether as they are viewed to contain misogyny. As a replacement, the Gospel of Thomas is included instead. Such events occur in all religions.The bringer of Christianity to Europe was Paul, formerly known as Saul. A Judean with Roman dual citizenship, he spread the religion of Jesus where he could but eventually turned to Rome. Christianity exists in Europe and the Middle East, along with colonies founded by adhering states.

Judaism
Judaism is comparatively minor, restricted mainly to Judea. Adherents are split into various groups. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah and Tanakh are key and should be strictly obeyed. Reformist are more open to Platonism and are more common.

Islam
Islam is based to Arabia and surrounding areas. In this timeline, Islam is as minor as Judaism and serves mainly to unify the Arab peoples. It does not actively seek converts and encourages "militant pacifism". However, a degree of internal conflict has occurred between those who believe anyone can lead Islam (Sunni Islam) and those who believe only descendants of the Prophet should (Shia Islam). A third group, the Kharijites, are famous for their socialist views and disdain for both the Sunni and Shia branches.

Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is popular in Persia. Adherents find cooperation with other monotheistic faiths surprisingly easy as they have a lot in common.

Hellenic pantheon
Greece and Rome are the main followers of this faith. As it still exists, the widespread use of Greek and Roman mythology as entertainment in the OTL is either non-existent or diluted to avoid offence. This is especially so in Rome, where Hellenics and Christians coexist but violence could erupt easily. However, the traditional Hellenic faith was attacked by Plato, claiming that real gods surely couldn't be as bad as humans, as they are closer to the Form of the Good; yet the gods are still emotional, vengeful warlike and unreasonable. This has not been seen as an issue in the areas where the Hellenic pantheon have many adherents.

Hinduism,
Hinduism is the main faith of the Indian subcontinent. Some adherents impose a caste system on the local populace. All Guardians are of the warrior caste -there's no way they can't be- but the others are more varied. The Brahmin caste have a monopoly on the office of philarchon and so far no dalit has achieved high office.

Buddhism
Buddhism is a faith of the Indian Subcontinent and also widespread among Platonic Chinese. Several Buddhist nations existed in Central Asia, such as in Afghanistan.

Taoism and Shenism
See China (Plato Succeeds). These faiths became more important after the destruction of Confucianism.

Native American
The Mesoamerican faiths were preserved by the Maya independence movement. Human sacrifice was abolished at the start of the liberation movement. The idea that the world would end in 2012 did not exist as the Maya continued their calendar. North America retains its faiths though works alongside outsider religions such as Christianity.

Eurasian and African
This refers to any other faith in the 3 main continents. The Norse faith is common in Scandinavia, while Shamanism is common in Siberia and parts of Russia. Tengrism is a faith around the

Other
A popular side cult is of the Persian sun god Mithras. As in our universe, it is a male only sect, though this was balanced by the cult of Cybele being revised to become all-female. Some faiths are simply not allowed at all such as the druids.

Atheism is allowed as long as the person remains Platonic. This is progress compared to the original demands that are still followed in some more extreme areas such as Greece and the Middle East, where atheists would be imprisoned first offence then executed the next.

Comparison with OTl
Sikhism is not the same as the Islamic/Hindu fusion was not possible. The Bahai faith does exist, but is has a larger Zoroastrian basis than Islamic.