No, this isn't one of those topics. At least I hope not.

So dunmer culture is shaped by Boethiah, prince of plots, Mephala black-hands, the original six-death, and Azura, goddess of dusk and dawn, prophecy, and the symbolism therein. No surprise they're such saucy fellows, and it's easy enough to explain how this gave rise to the Telvanni, the Dres, the Hlaalu,etc. But what about the Redoran? Where in the Velothi culture is there room for a society based on duty, gravity, and piety? Don't get me wrong, Redoran's my favorite house,and Athyn Sarethi is pretty much the reason I mainly play dunmer now. I just can't shake the feeling that they're a bizarre anomaly in the hyper-self-centered culture that worship of The Daedra (Boethiah in particular) would lead to.

I think in Mephala.
I think Redoran was Vehk's more than any other house apart from Indoril.

Yes, Redoran is Vivec's, Indoril is Almalexia's and Telvanni is Sotha Sil's.

Referencing the old gods, Redoran and Indoril are possibly the newest (Great) Houses--as far as recent prominence goes. [Granted, I can't immediately recall all the history.] They rose with the Tribunal's new Temple. In a sort of US Navy-Marine sort of way, what with the Marines originally serving as port authority for early America's naval force. Or something mistaken.

Then again, I could have sworn Dres was also Temple-fearing, though with a dose of Hlaalu greed (without the finesse, apparently).

Good enough for me, though I question how being patroned by Vivec taught them that an unserious life is not worth living.

Dres are ancestor worshipers, even with the temple around.

House Redoran and Boethiah represent the martial and moral might of the Dunmer. Although most Dark Elves are surly, to their own they're incredibly loyal to both family and friends. The entire clan/house system is based on Boethiah's strictures. Even though the Houses have been sundered, they are part of Velothi culture. A single household probably covers many generations and branches, regardless on being nobility or commoners. Dark Elves are also the more martial of the Merish races thanks to Boethiah pushing the Dunmer to approach life with an aggressive and domineering attitude. They are honorable and pious, they just don't see the point on showing it to non-Dunmer.

The Redoran are serious about being not so serious. Vivec reminds them of that every other night.

There's actually some confusion about this. Great Houses of Morrowind calls them "firm supporters of the Temple," while Vivec says that they keep to ancestor and Daedra worship.

On another note, I love your avatar.

Nerevar was part of House Indoril, seeing as he was the "King" of Morrowind that house would have had power even before the Tribunal. It is logical however that the house that Almalexia was a member of (if only by marriage) would rise to greater prominence with her.

It's also funny to note that many Indoril nobles took their own lives when the Armistice with the Empire was signed and that allowed House Hlaalu to take over many positions of power from House Indoril... You'd think a house as loyal as Indoril would have supported the decisions of the Tribunal no matter what.