@Adrianj: I also play Deity rarely, except for the occasional HoF Challenge Series game on that level. Lucky for me, the present HoF CS Game#10 has setting very similar to these: Archipelago/Deity. Sure, its quick speed instead of normal speed on BOTM40, but that just makes this one easier.
I played HoF CS#10 8 times in a row just before this game came out, so I decided right from the start to pursue some AP cheese, knowing that it is quite winnable that way. (OK, 5 of my 8 tries at CS#10 I aborted the game after losing the Oracle/Theology sling, but the other three were victories, albeit not impressive dates).
Up to 1AD here is how to do it (or rather how I did it, Sun Tzu Wu could surely improve over this):
Techs: Only those techs which will enable Theology from Oracle. Not one single worker tech. (The techs you need are Mining, Animal Husbandry, Writing, Mysticism, Polytheism, Priesthood, Masonry, Monotheism). Something approximating that order. Usually it is good to get Oracle started ASAP since you are doing it without chops/whips.
Builds: The only thing you will need to build is probably a worker (depending on whether those techs plus starting techs let your worker do anything useful), then a garrison warrior, A workboat for early exploring (on this map with this leader who starts with fishing) is highly recommended. You are building the Oracle at first chance... forget whatever else is in the queue. You should have time to get one settler out first, though. Then you might as well build (for fail gold) the Stonehenge -- switch to library when you have writing, and open borders with everyone. Worker should improve food-> commerce tile (if you have one) in that order. Then sit and do nothing, probably.
What's going on:
Optimally, you have either founded an early religion (unlikely at deity, but not impossible) or gotten religios spread from a neighbor. You will adopt the prevalent religion of your neighbors at first opportunity. You will adopt Org Rel at first opportunity, and make sure that this common religion, your state religion, is in the city where you will build the AP. In this game, all of my met civs were Bhudist and I got Bhudism spontaneous spread in both my cities before Oracle built.
Toku changed to Confu when he founded that religion... a potential problem on the horizon.
OK, about 1000BC the Oracle finishes and Monotheism is discovered on the same turn, and Theology is taken as free tech. It founds in your second city, but gives you a missionary to spread to your first city. Next build is the AP (build while in Bhudism, but switch state religion to Christianity the turn before the AP completes, so YOU have a monopoly on who gets the AP religion and how much of it they get). Switch back to common religion for diplomacy purposes after the 5t limit expires!
Then you will want to get bronzeworking next to chop/whip the AP asap. Do not trade away Theology before you have 1t or less to finish the AP! After that, its great trade bait. You'll want sailing to build galleys to transport missionaries, also high prio.
Next, you are going to build missionaries. Lots of 'em. Don't stop. You'll need 'em.
You can (and should) expand on your island, but no point settling off-island and creating negative feelings for close borders with other civs.
So... status at 1AD: I have the AP, which unites the Christian faith. Every election is uncontested, since only I am eligible, as everyone else (including me) is running a different state religion. My first GPro has built the Church of the Nativity, and it has spread Christianity to a couple civs already (free misionaries!). The rest of GPro's are settled in capitol. 4 civs met, 3 bhudist, one confu.
Plans: I can see who my friends are likely going to be (Bhudists, and those who will love me for running HR and OR civics).... they will get a lot of Xtianity. And I have an idea who I will
never get friendly... they will get one missionary, late as possible, in the smallest city with lowest growth potential. I have only met 4 civs (3 share Bhudism). I will not "need" Optics to reach all civs or get circumnav bonus (I don't think), but tortuous paths in galleys is so slow, I doubt I can get missionaries to all civs before I have Optics anyhow. So beeline to optics is in the plans.
I'll be ready to use all the tricks: Spies to change civics or even change religions to those which give diplo bonus to me. Gifting resources. Gift techs at end. Give in to all demands, except those which cause negative diplo with friend targets. Gift missionaries to civs running Thocracy. Use NSR when/if appropriate to get open borders. Then spam Xtianity in my friends cities until 75% of the xtian cities will vote for me. And pray (at the Church of the Nativity) I don't get attacked.
Simple, right? We'll see how that goes in practise, though.
OK, that's not a big deal in what's been a completely peaceful game so far. Toku (gah, him again 
) demanded a minor tech from me, which I granted, and of course the old boot won't open his borders, but he hasn't been as big a pain as he sometimes is. Oh, forgot, he has been his usual PITA--he settled a city on my island 2S of the wheat on the copper 
So, basically, my game sux, I guess. 
).
/turn, 1 turn away from learning Code of Laws.
), it could be spoilerish to read about the other AI's mentioned on the above posts. I, for one, had not met yet 3 of the 5 AI's mentioned here (Toku included), whereas a different one has found me. 
Not sure of what I should do now...but I'm certainly putting this game to sleep for a week.
that's pretty good for me on Deity level!
and have not attempted any other World Wonder. Currently building Moai Statues in City #2, which was founded 2S+1SW of Capitol, next to Copper, with Fish & Clams in BFC.
- well maybe I get DOWed by several AI shortly into the AD's. 
