I especially like these design choices, and here is why.

Having been born and raised into an adulthood of work in the wonderful state of Kansas, I had to become callous at a young age towards all the various zealots screaming at the top of their lungs about their slightly different (but still protestant, mind) interpretations of the bible. As a kid, I was dutifully dropped off at Sunday school by my mother at many different churches (as she was shopping around for one she liked), and I got exposed to these differences.

Since all the adults told the different stories, or drew different “lessons” from the same story, I took some advice from a great uncle out of context he had probably intended: “If two people tell you two stories about the same thing, they’re probably both lying.” I pretty much became a little atheist at age five or six; in my early teen years, I ended up reading a bunch of philosophy, and realized that was just another baseless position like those I had abandoned. Agnosticism, yay.

Now, I just wish people would shut up about the whole issue. Its a private matter; it ought to have nothing to do with your politics or your public life. Probably, only your family and close friends ought to have any idea what beliefs you hold outside a conversation like this.

@ Another Joe: In no way do I want to be seen to be condoning the politics of Geert Wilders. My point was that, irrespective of his political position, he dealt with Islam critically and objectively, and should be applauded for doing that in the face of significant hostility, both actual and intellectual. The other issue is that whether you agree with his portrayal of Islam or not, he was merely exercising his right to free expression and we all have a responsibility to condemn any attempt to restrict that. I actually have a huge problem with Geert Wilders for other reasons, but I have a lot of respect for him risking his life (which he did) to make a film that was actually very informative and gave a fairly accurate portrayal of certain elements of a belief system that is exeptionally violent and oppressive. At the risk of sounding like a pretentious arse, that famous Voltaire quote sums it up: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” I think it was contemptible that he was banned from entering the UK and anyone who supported the ban should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

OK rant over

Perhaps the closest games get to critical examination of religion (albeit oblique) is in a fantasy setting. I’m thinking Morrowind, Torment.

Although I’d like to hear your hypothesis of how to more effectively integrate religious atmosphere/tension into Assassin’s Creed, a game of such minimalism and focused objectives.