It is hard to get out of the religion=realm mindset. Most, if not all, of the early formal religions in the game were state religions designed for no other purpose than to keep out foreign (e.g. hostile) religions. Some religions are used specifically to support the state (Flow of the Balance, the various Alluran incarnations, early Church of Humanity, etc.) And this is excluding the theocracies. And when you see a priest using their religion specifically to help their realm in a non-religious war, it solidifies the religion=realm concept.
