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Both of my LotFP settings - Republic of Zagadur and Dreaded Islands - share similar assumptions and, possibly, share the same world. This thread details my thoughts on how religion and magic, as well as alignment (Law vs. Chaos) functions in my world(s).

The conflict between the natural (Lawful) world and the supernatural (Chaotic) world is eternal. Since its very beginning, Humanity either worshipped the gods of the natural world (Lawful), consorted with Fey and Demons (Chaotic) or shied away from both (Neutral). The Chaotic world seeks to infiltrate and subvert the Lawful world (Changelings - my interpretation of the Elf class - are one example - Fey babies transplanted in place of abducted human babies); the Lawful world fights back; but most people, and many animals, sit on the sidelines in this conflict.

Both the Old and the New Faiths are Lawful. The Old Faith worships a quasi-monotheistic nature/agriculture goddess (of the Maiden-Mother-Crone type); the New Faith worships the Mastersmith, a monotheistic god focused on craftsmanship. The Old Faith has a less aggressive stance towards Chaos, and merely seeks to contain it and to ward against its worst excesses; the New Faith seeks, in theory, to smite Chaos whenever it defiles our reality; in practice, certain types of chaos (such as Changelings and some M-Us) are - barely - tolerated by all but the most fanatical sects. The Lizardmen of the New World (and the nearby Dreaded Islands) have Shamans who are also Lawful.

Most clerics (New Faith), priests (Old Faith) and shamans (Lizardmen Tradition) are level 0 NPCs and DO NOT belong to the Cleric class; for the most part, they lack magical ability, though many have other skills (such as herbalism or medicine) and all enjoy the power of their positions in society; the more devout of them - not all are - may Turn Undead as Level 1 Clerics and even cast spells such as Protection from Chaos as a level 1 Cleric; the most devout may even cast Dispel Chaos as level 5 Clerics; but they lack the other abilities of Clerics, and, usually, have 1 HD and the other stats of level 0 NPCs.

A few clerics, priests and shamans DO belong to the Cleric class; regardless of faith or tradition, they follow exactly the same game rules (though PCs can't be Lizardmen Shamans - only the Lizardman class which I'll detail later on). These are the exception and not the rule - the saints and prophets of the New Faith, the holy women (and men) of the Old Faith, and a few very powerful Lizardmen Shamans. In most cases, especially in the New Faith, the official religious hierarchy dislikes these men and women, in extreme cases branding them heretics. They tend to be adventurers more often than not as they put their gifts to use in the service of the God(ess)/Spirits in the most effective way outside of the church, temple or tribal hut.

Most commoners haven't seen magic in their lifetime, though everyone has heard (very inaccurate) tales of it. The ignorant peasant or his similarly ignorant village priest (or even the educated by politically-motivated city bishop) may call both the Old Faith priestess and the Magic-User sorcerers "Witches"; in extreme cases, when fanatics are involved, they might even burn them at the stake.

Fey are the most common manifestation of Chaos in the Mortal Realm. They dwell relatively "close" to reality, and thus, in many cases, resemble worldly creatures and plants - sometimes even humans - to a degree. Further away from reality lie far more alien things - the creatures summoned by the Summon spell in LotFP. Fey sometimes abduct human babies and replace them with their own - this leads to Human-like Fey being raised by humans (these are the Changelings), and while their standing in society is quite low (most people distrust Fey), they are usually tolerated (usually is the key word here - sometimes a more fanatical sect of the New Faith lynches them).

Low-level Magic-Users usually consort with Fey one way or another. High-level Magic-Users usually learn far more bizarre truths and consort with far more alien beings from Beyond the Veil. Not all Magic Users are servants of the cause of Chaos, but most do dabble in the Chaotic world, and traffick with Chaotic beings - risking their souls in order to gain arcane power.

Of course, the Lawful god(ess)/spirits rarely answer prayers in person, and rarely grant obviously visible powers to their followers. While this doesn't get in the way of most people's faith, some people want to worship gods who bring more immediate results. This is how cults - who usually worship particularly nasty Chaotic beings - attract their followers. Cultist priests usually have much more magic than priests of either faith; they are, however, Magic-Users and not Clerics and learn their powers from their "Gods".