I've been talking with Evangelist on Skype so we could think this out much more with the 2 of us and Magoo we totaly agree with what you're saying, it SHOULD be fictionalised.
Some ideas we already came up with are these (IF we'd create it, we'll start with the outcast version of it)
-They see cardamine as the body of christ in the eucharist. They experience themselves as chosen once because the plants on Malta changed their DNA. This makes them belive that they'll go right to heaven when they die. This very aspect will limit the power of this faction A LOT, because not many people are willing to start taking cardamine. Also like we know in real life, the drugs you buy on the street is almost always the BAD stuff, because they're keeping the GOOD stuff for themselves. So the GOOD stuff of the Outcasts might actually be going to their priests, etc. and since it'd be such a high concentration of cardamine, it might actually induce hallusinations, wich could be experienced as visions and profecies.
-We also know that Outcasts have some sort of pagan tradition where they send their ships of to the Siniestre Nebula. So new pagan aspects entered their religion.
-Outcasts have known about the Nomads longer then other factions, because of their close borders with them. But many of the religios outcasts might actually experience these blue things, as angels or even as the Holy Spirit itself. So they'd worship Nomads to some extension.
-Since the Virulean Enclave is a faction that came out of the Corsairs, this Outcast religion will experience the the Enclave as heretics and will be seen as enemie number 1. They'd first try to talk them out of their heathen ways, and if this doesn't work they'll have to kill them. This'll give the Enclave an enemie to fight, wich'll also make it more interesting for these players to play their chars.
On a side note, introducing hard core roleplayers to Omicron Alpha might work beneficial for the new players, because Liberty, the Outcasts and the Corsairs lure newbees like moths to a fire. Having roleplayers in these areas, who are willing to teach new players what roleplay is all about and how much fun you can have with it, might actually be good for roleplay in general.
Evangelist and I are still talking and debating about every aspect of this faction, and more then likely this faction won't come into existance, because of all the fears we share with each of you. So if we can not come up with a good solution, please know that the faction won't come, because we're here to enjoy ourselves just like everyone else, and we don't want to steal fun of others ^^
Although I would think it to be entirely fair to consider us heretics for having fled Malta. Perhaps seen as 'turning our back' on the 'Holy Land', if you will.