Pagan religions did not require their adherents to worship only one god or even one set of gods. Many pagans believed that deities were local, so that if you moved to a different region, you would naturally change your gods. Adding one or more new deities to the religious system was not a problem; in fact, more educated people in the pagan world frequently thought of this as being broad-minded and inclusive. This attitude not only was seen as virtuous and cosmopolitan but also had real pragmatic value. People saw this inclusiveness as a source of strength for the Roman Empire because it helped
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