Yeah, the first book is more vague on that point, although I picked up on the Dust/Original Sin parallel right away, and that point is made just as clearly in the movie. Even more clearly, maybe, than in the book. Talking with my friends afterwards, we have no idea how they would film the second or especially the third books without the anti-religion themes.

No worries, no disrespect taken. :) Really, I love the first two books about equally. I was less taken with the third, but I think I may have read it too quickly because I remember almost nothing of the details. Hence, the re-read.