What if christianity never existed ?

[abaris]

Since the Romans did not force religion on most of their conquests until the xtian virus took hold, then something probably would have sprung up to do the job in its place.

The Romans didn't enforce religion, they assimilated religions. More a political than a spiritual move, since they left the conquered ethnicities with what they knew and added it to their Pantheon. In that sense the christian persecution before it became state religion is to be seen on the same lines. They refused to adapt to the political system by offering to the emperor, which was considered treasonous. Nevertheless they weren't persecuted on a daily basis. Only among the first ones to turn to when a scapegoat was needed. Since we're playing what if - if christianity hadn't had it's claim of exclusiveness it would have been just another assimilated believe in the Roman system.