How to Remove a Religion from a Game?

[WC4J]

I know this is a question that really should have been asked after G and K was released, but I just want an answer because it's somewhat important.

It is quite frequent that I end up taking a holy city, and then get stuck with a religion I don't really want in my cities.

Are inquisitors the only way to completely remove a religion so that my original religion from my capital can spread?

And, if so, is it best to target the holy city with inquisitors first (in other words, would that be the most effective way to reduce religious pressure to other cities)?

 

[chukownu]

An inquistor will actually remove holy city status in the city you took so that it will no longer pressure itself, so yes, that's the way to get started on extinguishing the religion.

 

[Veneke]

I don't think you can ever completely remove a religion. I've nuked an enemy holy city with a great prophet a couple of times and it keeps on coming back. My advice would be to time your inquisitors to kill the enemy religion over a turn or two, dump your missionaries in there and then keep the natural pressure of your own religion up with trade routes, missionaries, buildings etc. That way, when it comes back, it should return very slowly and, hopefully, natural growth will keep it at bay.

 

[Securion]

Capture the Holy City. Buy an Inquisitor. Move it the the captured Holy City. Use. Problem solved. Religion forever gone. Never coming back. No pressure. Ever. Etc...

 

[WC4J]

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Ramanag]

Capture their capital before they found a religion, then laugh as they make their second city the holy city during the war, then raze it. This has happened to me exactly once, but it was HILARIOUS.

 

[Chiatroll]

Capture the Holy City. Buy an Inquisitor. Move it the the captured Holy City. Use. Problem solved. Religion forever gone. Never coming back. No pressure. Ever. Etc...

it's important to note that it's neighbors will still have pressure if they have the religion and the holy status can return if any of the religion gets back in the holy city if you don't pump out the missionary/inquistor force needed to counter that pressure.

I've seen it happen a few times while I was religion headhunting as Assyria.