The sinister interpretation of "Westwind" is entirely in keeping with the religious one. Christianity can be (and has been) called "the opiate of the people" and "a religion for slaves."
The error is assuming that because the country (world?) of "Westwind" is ruled directly by God, it has to be heaven-like. However, to a believer, our world is ruled directly by God, and each and every one of us can have personal communication with him, without even the need of a pocket phone. Does that mean that our world is any more heaven-like?
I actually wonder if the ruler's pocket phones and TV speeches violate the "ground rules" anyway. If you can know other than through faith that god exists, then there is no free will, is there? It's like Pascal's wager with the dice loaded.
-vizcacha
(david_lebling at avid.com)