You only need dueling style if you're playing a duelist. You get access to a variety of special maneuvers. Each dueling school also has a signature move, and a preferred weapon/dueling style. I can give you a short synopsis on them if you want.<br/><br/>Edit - Actually, someone already has.<br/><br/>http://ninjasensei.wikidot.com/7thsea:duelist-styles<br/><br/>You don't have to be religious. The game was patterned heavily on 17th Century Europe, and frankly, a lot of people then were religious.