The rise of monotheistic religions marks a significant shift in mentality, contrasting the ancient belief in multiple legitimate gods, which shaped the cultural landscape of the Roman Empire. Before 300 AD, Romans practiced a form of pagan polytheism where multiple gods were worshipped without a central religious authority, making religion an auxiliary aspect of life rather than a driving force.

The rise of Christianity led to the destruction of the pagan world, resulting in a significant epistemological shift where the notion of multiple deities became untenable, consolidating belief into a single monotheistic deity.

Roman religion was polytheistic, borrowing many gods from Greek mythology, with different cities having their own patron deities. The Romans had an open-minded approach to religion, often integrating new beliefs from conquered societies into their own practices, seeing them as analogous to their existing gods.

The Romans were very into ritual and sacrifice, taking their religious practices seriously as part of their identity.

The decline of religion has led to a radical subjectivity in society, where personal outcomes are often viewed as solely determined by individual actions, neglecting the role of a higher moral order.

The Christian metagame emphasizes voluntary self-sacrifice, contrasting with the pagan world's focus on power and hedonism, suggesting a radical shift in values that aligns with human maturation.

The transition from religious obligation to mere entertainment in Roman games reflects a shift in societal values over time, as sports were a major part of life, with gladiatorial combat and chariot races being extremely popular, making gladiators and chariot racers celebrities.

The suspicion of other causal forces at work manifests in the imaginations of those on the cutting edge of thought, potentially as a consequence of Christianity's victory over paganism, which led to a desacralized worldview.

Religions serve as a cooperating system for humans, establishing rules and boundaries for expected behavior.