In "On a word to heathens" by Peter Watts, the basic idea is faith can be induced by electromagnetic waves. On the surface, this is an exciting concept - but the implication is that God is a neurological construct. To quote Spellman [1] paraphrasing Auerbach - this is the "tyranical nature of biblical narratives"* - there is one God, and only a heathen needs faith - the protagonist has "seen" God and knows that it exists.
This is not much different from a traditional Hindu's idea of God - though the words for a believer (aastik) roughly means - well, a believer, and in modern contexts - of God, but aastik truly refers to one who believes in the idea of aatma - self (though that word has been modernized to mean spirit). Which is why a naastik (notice the n negation? It is an opposite of aastik) is not an atheist (despite the modernization of the word meaning that - and in a derogatory way). A Carvaka (a naastik sect of Hinduism - a sect is not a caste) and an Atheist have tangentially similar views, their philosophies are quite different.
In "A word to heathens", Praetor (our protagonist - roughly translates to provost) is challenged on his faith - his connection to his God or the neurological construct of God is severed - but this means he can regain it and that is his inspiration. For a Carvaka this is not an avenue - he is not blasphemous for being a naastik - he has nothing to repent for.
Coming back to the story - the premise is, upon his connection to God being literally severed - the Praetor, who has already committed murder for his God, while initially dejected (and suffering from the withdrawal), is even more zealous to gain it back - ready to lay many more dead in the God's name. Children in USA who grow up in Judeo-Christian households, straying from the path, and becoming born-again often mirror this - though they're much kinder and well-meaning - in that to show his love for his God, he will deny the rights to minorities and LGBT - in his "outer" mind, he is showing them love, but my guess is, internally, he doesn't understand this and thus despises such globalization. This is not to deride evangelicals, but rather interesting way to explore why the loud minority of born-again are so hateful.
There is an interesting scene in the book where a heathen hovers over the rail lines to get some of the electromagnetic wave in his mind, so his faith grows stronger. The Praetor doesn't understand this - why does one even need faith, there is empirical evidence of God, faith requires belief in the anecdotal. Apart from political reasons, many religions (even apart from Abrahamic) such as early Zorastrianism and some schools such as Xenophanes opposed idol worship (though Xenophanes specifically was against anthromorphizing of Gods - which the story doesn't explicitly discuss) - I can guess this form of thinking might have been some factor in being against Idol Worship, though I of course, cannot confirm.
There is also an interesting narrative where the severance is a test from God, a punishment for his faith - how this is similar God commands Abraham to take his son Isaac to Mount Moriah and offer him as a burnt sacrifice. I have no notes on that, I found it incredibly fascinating and established for me that Watts is an excellent writer I need to read more of.
Note: None of this is meant to be disrespectful. I also don't mean to say the Bible is tyranical - I am an Athiest from a different background, but I would rather not share opinions on Religions I am not completely familiar with.
References: 1. https://www.chedspellman.com/2007/03/eric-auerbach-on-tyrannical-nature-of.html