I also don't have organized religion on Pern. I figured - since there were four holy wars going on at the time of writing - that religion was one problem Pern didn't need.
What I used to do between writing fits was feed my kids, ride my horse and go shopping for cat and dog food.
I don't often reread my own books, unless I am going into another in the series and need to refresh my mood when originating the concept.
People have freaked out when I tell them that my dragons are scientifically based... what else can you call a genetically engineered life form?
The thing is, emotion - if it's visibly felt by the writer - will go through all the processes it takes to publish a story and still hit the reader right in the gut. But you have to really mean it.