[Wonder Warthog]

"From that period to the present, Saudi Arabia became and remained a secular nation, allowing the free practice of Islam- as long as it didn't threaten the house of Saud."

During exactly what period was Saudi Arabia a "secular nation". The "state religion" of SA has always been Islam.

[wolfpat]

I think the author was referring to the fact that there is a state to have a state religion, rather than a random collection of tents in the desert, makes them a "secular nation."