No offense taken, I try to be more or less the same way.
(I have noticed in the past, you seem to be extra careful to not step on religious toes.
)
I agree that the rules and the world are plausible -- as all the best series' are. I also happen to be fairly opinionated about what I think is plausible.
I think Christian references are fascinating -- and I keep in mind that since fantasy books aren't real life, they can pretty much say whatever (as long as it doesn't offend good taste) without contradicting my beliefs
-- and with that in mind:
I simply feel that it makes a better and more believable story if the coins are a distilled example rather than a source. It seems to fit more logically. That's all I was saying, and my tangent about real life was an accidental example of a harmless conversation turning into an equally harmless, but disconcertingly serious discussion. And we can't be having with seriousness here, now can we?
But that is a pretty good point about why knights of the cross are sometimes not Christians, even markedly so. Look at Shiro, a devout Buddhist. One of the things I admire about the Dresdenverse -- the way it has a very refreshing look at interfaith relationships and the idea that has been clearly expressed, that religion seems to be more of a channel for peoples' desire to just do the right thing. We could do with a bit more of that in the real world, what with things in the last few weeks.
Anyway, enough of the serious.