It might be nice if >As the maverick thinker saw it was just "As he saw it" and maybe take out the fallen but still faithful priest bit as well. but the res

It might be nice if >As the maverick thinker saw it was just "As he saw it" and maybe take out the fallen but still faithful priest bit as well. but the rest of the text is pretty straightforward what is meant. Synonyms suggested - torn apart instead of rent asunder.