User blog comment:Tree Climber/Religon of Redwall part 2/@comment-1763658-20100303013748

I think the reason why BJ used Abbey as the focus of Redwall is to put contrast with castles. Most tyrants that appear in the books have themselves built a castle. It shows the power and cruelty of the leaders and how they inflict it upon lesser animals.

The abbey on the other hand represents a communal effort from many creatures to secure peace and security for themselves. So that means he was perhaps not alluding to religion at all. Seeing that he's already used an Abbey, he appointed leaders with the base structure of abbey's like Abbots, Friars, Brothers, etc.

Lastly, if BJ was really striking hidden meanings through his words, he would be in a lot of trouble. People would say that he is prejudiced since his charectar's karma is based on their species and not upbringing.