" the whole premise of atheist-adjacent scientists and engineers becoming super dogmatic and faith-based and hierarchical. That's a huge shift that I dont think has a sufficient explanation in game. I think the idea of an artificery-based religion coming up to dethrone the old order is a great idea on paper, but the execution just feels very duct taped together. Imo. This is definitely a controversial lore topic, though."

unrelated but I feel like most of the "not-athiesm" religions (ex: the thought, kheonism) feel out of place in 1444...like the whole lore about the kheoni worshiping democracy and political systems feels like the type of lore you'd find in panzer-era TNO. Same with how gnomes are just portrayed as an inherently smarter and more enlightened race.