Smaller communities and towns will have a stronger identity because "everyone knows everyone."

Large cities will have pocket communities, be they drawn along ethnic, monetary, religious and even sexual lines, because everyone cannot know everyone else because of sheer density of population!

It's easier (sometimes safer, sadly) that like sticks to like, because mixing and mingling across strata is complex and demanding.

A small town mightl have one church of one demonimation, one temple, etc. A large city with have several churches of one demonination and so and so on. They may all be linked, but they're like cells composing a larger organism. Self-containted but united to make something bigger.

Some communities, like perhaps the Amish, can labelled as being relgious enclaves because their beliefs lead them to forsake modern technology for a more pastoral existence.

That doesn't mean Amish people are stupid compared to New Yorkers or what not. The way they're living life is simply geared to a different direction.

Amish people may not be flying rockets to the moon, but New Yorkers also aren't farming their own land...or flying rockets to the moon for that matter! :p

Religion can promote a "herd mentality," but that doesn't make it an insidious mind control institution.

We all break God in our own image.