Larken, you are correct in describing statists and their fervent belief in authority as a religion. In my mind, I prefer to call it the Cult of Dominion. This cultish belief in a dominating force that governs the masses and is not just necessary but desirable, is practically universal.
While the island makes a good story to illustrate your point, sadly, this very scenario has played itself out throughout history. Native cultures unfamiliar with the Cult of Dominion had to be forcefully "converted" to the "civilized" world view of the cultists. Native cultures proved to be resistant to the deception.
There is a Cult and its belief in authority is the most powerful and destructive belief in the world. There are intelligent, good people who can get as afar as accepting the immorality of Dominion but falter when pondering a world without it. Such is the power of the illusion.
Frankly, I have been explaining anarchy since the sixties and I am tired. I am very grateful for Larken and the growing numbers of voices taking up the sane choice of self ownership and voluntarism in the face of the powerful Cult of Dominion.
While i am tired, I have not given up. I am currently researching when the Cult began. We all know how the story has grown into the insanity we witness daily but its true origin is not known.
As we said in the sixties, "Free your mind and your ass will follow."