Looking good. I'm a bit more excited than I expected to be.

Sure I understand that, but imposing a ridiculous story (not saying they are doing that) would take away from the immersion that such an environment would give (albeit it isn't a Far Cry game without conflict, so they do have to make something up.)

Militias and religious cults have very little to do with one another, in general. There are just as many secular militias as there are religious ones. There are actually various wings of American militia movements: a libertarian/gun rights one, a Christian/white-supremacist one, and a "sovereign citizen"/anti-globalization one. Some militias mix and match these wings. Out of the three wings I can only see the religous/white-supremacist ones attacking people and forcing them to their way of life. The other two are mostly reactionary, and have no interest in other people's lives in so much as other's leave them alone. The game's story would be interesting if they positioned the other two wings against the white-supremacist one. It would be an interesting take on American anti-government culture. 

It should be noted that not all unorganized militias are violent entities. Every state in the United States has had unorganized militias at one time or another. The one in my state (Pennsylvania Military Reserve) is pretty benign and even wants the state to recognize it as an entity that can supplement the organized militia (national guard) in times of emergency. 

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/CHURCHILL/CMS_Paper.pdf (Paper about the militia movement and its wings.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_organizations_in_the_United_States

"A 1999 US Department of Justice analysis of the potential militia threat at the Millennium conceded that the vast majority of militias were reactive (not proactive) and posed no threat.^[13] The Hutaree militia of Michigan was in fact prevented from killing a police officer and bombing his funeral by the FBI in cooperation with another local militia.^[14] By 2001, the militia movement seemed to be in decline, having peaked in 1996 with 858 groups.^[15] With the post-2007 global financial crisis and the election of Barack Obama to the United States presidency in 2008, militia activity has experienced a resurgence.^[14][16][17] Militia groups have recently been involved in several high-profile standoffs, including the Bundy Standoff in 2014 and the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016 amid a renewed rise in anti-government militia movements."

The potential cult you linked is a "new age" religion, not one based on Christianity (the one in the trailer is obviously based on Christianity.) 

Here is a description of the leader

"Betty Clare grew up in a home that was mainly non-religious except for major holidays. Her father was Lutheran, her mother Catholic. Yet it was her mother's interests in Theosophy, the I AM Activity, and Christian Science that had the most influence on Elizabeth.^[17] In Theosophy and the I AM Activity she heard about the Ascended Masters, Karma, and Reincarnation; in Christian Science she was told that matter was not the only reality and that the spirit part of us made in the image of God was our true nature. Prophet stayed with Christian Science until she met Mark Prophet at the age of 22.^[18]"

FAR Cry 4 sucked too though, compare it to Uncharted4 or Witcher 3 or RE7 on ultra

I think Witcher 3 can look inconsistent in certain places. Very impressive for an open world game, but for me not among the best looking games this gen. Understandably. Now those E3 trailers though....

Far Cry 5 looking to be one of the best looking titles this gen just like FC4. Not sure what the hate about its graphics.........its easily a top 3 or 2 looking open world. Maube even 1, Witcher 3 visually is a bit over exaggerated