You can't write about the past and ignore religion. It was such a fundamental mind-shaping driving force for pre-modern societies. I'm very interested in what religion does to us - its capacity to create love and empathy or hatred and violence.
Sci-fi nerds are respectful honorable. You can trust them.
Things come apart so easily when they have been held together with lies
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
If you are a reliable, honest journalist, sources...