The US had this ‘deal’ with religions: you stay out of politics, and we won’t tax you. I doubt it’s ever really worked, but at least the religious abuses weren’t as blatant as now..

I’ve always considered religions ‘place’ is to sooth the ignorant, along with those too weak to face the reality of death. Helping those in need appears to end with those unwilling to join their ranks..

I agree with your thesis, and think the ‘founding fathers’ of the USA expected, giving no one religion State authority, that politics would provide for the citizenry. What they didn’t account for was the creeping power of extreme wealth … and its detrimental effect on politics, often through the use of religion/s.

What hurts this once proud ‘American’ is how many other advanced nations are leaving religion behind … as we become more deeply mired within it.. So I cheer on those nations ..with the hope mine will someday successfully catch up. We won the Space Race, perhaps we’d best join the Reality Race ~