Ah, but we're talking Seamus canon - ergo early/mid nineties, smack bang in the middle of The Troubles. When you have a country divided by Protestants and Catholics who have been warring with each other since the sixties - war and religion are on everyones doorstep at this time.

there's a difference between being exposed to religion and being taught its basics and being a religious person. one doesn't necessarily entail the other. - I totally agree.