Episcopalians Were Once the U.S. National Religion

As astute academic recently reviewed why religious conservatives are SO angry that an Episcopalian Bishop recently lectured President Trump. The Bishop warned Trump that gay and trans people are very frightened. Conservatives are having a cow over this remark by the Bishop. The link explains their anger is based on the threat they see in an Episcopalian talking to a President about moral values. It is conservative Protestantism that is the National Religion, conservatives think, and, while Episcopalians held that position for most of modern U.S. history, Southern conservatives took it from them and do not want to give it back.

The link author makes a point I had never really considered. He writes that the state religions of Europe helped to hold in check the various religious impulses that come and go. There will be religions trying to push their way into government, the argument says, so why not bring in a religion that referees the others? Episcopalians were the ones doing this earlier. Now we have ones that are even more harmful.

We can all speculate about this argument. It is a little misleading to refer back to earlier times because there were not as many religions. Further, the computer and phone screen may have expanded the reach of religions that would not have survived back in the day. 

And then there is the problem that is more personal. My experiences with people sitting in the Mayor's  Office praying that I might see the light and the endless parade of people I have encountered telling me "I know what the true Christianity (or Hinduism, etc.) is. Those others do not know what I know" make it all revolting. Perhaps my tolerance needs some improvement. Maybe the tolerance of others toward me could use some improvement also.

Nevertheless, the link author's observation that there will always be some group trying, and being successful, in putting religion into government may well be correct. I just wish it were not so.