Thanks, Phungus (religion-popping issue). I found a forum page followed by Afforess and put a comment there, not knowing how to PM him. Since you've sent it to Glider, we'll see what can be done.
A related nit to changing how religions pop is the fact that the AI logic will still occasionally have them buy meditation or polytheism (or code of laws, etc., in a later era), if they're spiritual and really want a religion. That won't work anymore with "buying tech" not getting you a religion, so AI logic should no longer have them do this. (In one game, I never saw Buddhism, tho I was first human to research it, so I'm pretty sure AI bought meditation and thus turned it off for good -- or at least it's off until the other 6 all get invented [we didn't make it to Islam to see if Budd popped somewhere at that point].)
A related nit to changing how religions pop is the fact that the AI logic will still occasionally have them buy meditation or polytheism (or code of laws, etc., in a later era), if they're spiritual and really want a religion. That won't work anymore with "buying tech" not getting you a religion, so AI logic should no longer have them do this. (In one game, I never saw Buddhism, tho I was first human to research it, so I'm pretty sure AI bought meditation and thus turned it off for good -- or at least it's off until the other 6 all get invented [we didn't make it to Islam to see if Budd popped somewhere at that point].)