> all of the hallmarks or a religious system (clergy, faith, heretics, threat of damnation, etc)

which is a very Western/Abrahamic view of religion.

Belief is always scary to the Observer, and comforting to the Believer. the more sure the Believer is, the more scared the Observer gets, because they perceive more threat. theist and atheist Believers are more alike than they are different.