His problem isn't religion. That seems to belong in your corner. His problem is a controlling freaky parent.
He needs psychiatric help.
He likes it that way. You can't change him. He likes his mom more than you.
Except it or move on. You have NOTHING to do with this. Let it go.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.