Arain Christian influence on Islam

[Michael Erwin]

I think social factors, not purely theological ones, influenced the  
rise of Islam in Egypt and in Spain too.

Basically, suppose we have two religions (in Egypt) and the first  
(Chalcedonian Christianity) is the state religion and the second  
(Monothelite Christianity) faces active persecution. A new power  
overthrows the old one, and a new state religion (Islam) which  
doesn't conduct as much persecution. Theologically, the different  
Christian traditions are closer to each other than to Islam.  
Socially, they inherit mutual hostility to each other but not to Islam.

Thus, in Egypt, Monothelite Christians, and Jews, who would never  
consider converting to Chalcedonian Christianity might consider  
converting to Islam.

Similarly, in Spain, for Wulfilan Christians, and Jews.

Similarly, in Gaul and Italy, the Gothic successor-kingdoms may have  
seen conversion of 'outsider' Christians as well as Jews. I doubt the  
Roman 'Arians' (not as numerous in the west as in the east) and  
Gothic 'Arians' would have picked fights with each other in the fifth- 
sixth centuries.

The motivations for theologically-inclined individuals might work  
very differently than for the general population, with issues of  
church doctrine and church practice playing much larger roles. Paul  
of course converted from the school of Gamaliel to proto- 
Christianity, and Tertullian converted from the 'main' church to  
Montanism.
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