You turn in two directions that are very closely related. But religion can get to the point where ritual has been tamed so that it is less mysterious and more understandable. I don't go along with that. Now, that might put me in a very conservative place. I think we shouldn't try to be so understandable but rather recognize that the whole point of art and ritual is to place us in the realm of mystery.
Spiritual practice can also be a valuable way of dealing with mystery, and so can theology.
I believe that all of our social problems and problems of peace and violence are theological questions. People use this object because they find power in it. And if you're talking about fetishes, that's a religious issue. If we can't discuss the problem of violence in the United States theologically, I don't think we're ever going to deal with it adequately. I base all of my work on the Catholic tradition, really.