"But that fanaticism would be generated by the church of that person's faith, not by a school that refrained from choosing one faith's god to pray to over another faith's god." (Sharon)

I'd see it more as one of the consequences of intolerance on the part of the people who laughed at someone for saying their prayers. Intolerance generates fanaticism in all kinds of contexts. Sneer at people for being different, and just now and then that's going to push someone over the edge.