As usual, you know the details in far greater depth than I.

That said, I think there is an underlaying dynamic, between tradition and renewal, driving these historical cycles.

One of my inspirations is Gilbert Murray and his book, The Five Stages of Greek Religion.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30250/30250-h/30250-h.htm

His basic thesis is Greek religion, emerging from pre-history, was seasonal. The year god born of the old sky god and earth mother, then ascending the throne, to give way the next year. Though by classical Greece, this had set in stone, with Zeus retaining the crown, leaving Dionysus to fester.

Which provided the ground for the rise of Christianity, with the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as both a story of renewal and revolt against the old. Thus the origin of the Trinity, with the mother neutered as the Holy Ghost, though effectively replaced by the Marys.

Which in the context of your description, goes to how it also overthrew the Roman traditions. Only to eventually be co-opted by another era of traditional powers that be.

Then Martin Luther is forced to try to push the reset button again, but not against that top down deity, that has come to define Western civilization..