Turning Points in History- What if Outcomes Were Different?

I’m exploring turning points in history. In the next few days I’ll be suggesting a hypothesis of major events in history- exploring what our world would be like today if the outcome of the event was different. Would the world be a different place- even recognizable by our current frame of reference, or would there be no real difference today? Would we still have the same value systems? You can submit your views in the comments section of the article.

Today’s question is: What if Jesus had not been born?

With all respect, people may say He was destined to be born- that God made that scenario and there couldn’t possibly have been any other outcome. That may be true, but God gives us free will. And with our free will we make many mistakes in life, often behaving in a manner that God would disapprove of- committing sin.

Even if He was born, could our free will actions have changed the course of history? Would the outcome be the same as not being born if I suggested: what if He had not been crucified? For instance, what if Judas didn’t rat on him? Or what if the crowd pleaded with Pontius Pilate to spare Jesus? Or what if Pontius Pilate chose to spare him anyway? Would Jesus have been involved in some other event that resulted in Christianity, as we know it?

Would a Messiah have come along later? The Prophet Mohamed did. Would the Muslim religion have spread across Europe? Would the Jewish religion have spread more widely? They’re still anticipating the Messiah. Would northern Europeans have clung to a Pagan, Mother Earth centered theology? Would our sense of right and wrong be different today?

In my opinion I don’t think it would’ve mattered that much. It didn’t matter to Hindus and Buddhists whether Jesus lived or not. People would still be living where they are and doing what they do. Europeans would have adopted some other religion and it would've evolved to be our guidepost in His absence.

Do you think the world would be different today if Jesus had not been born? How might it be different?