Simply put, the question is this:

How should we interpret professions of faith when said professions merely repeat what is required by law?

The implications for "Pagan History" should be obvious. ALL of the regions of the earth (specifically, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe) in which "Pagan" religions, as the term is generally understood, were practiced at one time eventually saw the establishment of Christian or Muslim theocracies. Many contemporary scholars and writers have simply taken professions of adherence to Islam and Christianity at face value - even when those professions occur during times of well-entrenched theocratic states. It is common practice to go so far as to offer such professions as "proof" of non-survival of Pagan religious traditions.

Discussion?