re: Whacko Religious Update
One of the red flags for me that someone's religion has gone a bit close to the edge of the pier is a fervent hostility toward the ideas of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
I don't know anyone like this myself, but I'd bet there's a lot of this kind of thing out in Matherville, where Mary Anne lives. Heck, I'd bet they've actually crucified an Easter Bunny out there.