Britain one of the 'world's least religious countries', says poll

[uriel1972]

9. I get the feeling that having a state religion...

leads to religion having a less powerful grip on the citizenry. As the religion gets it's grubby fingers into the state machinery, it gets harder and harder to look serene and disinterested.

On the other hand, it could be that the state itself tames the religion for it's own means/survival. The church becomes a sort of spiritual functionary of government.

The Catholic Church is perhaps the world's first and most successful multinational corporation. It's epicentre is it's own psuedo-nation and it is not bound by any 'foreign' government.

It is largely free from government control and the stigma of being tied to any one government. It presents the image of being above government, despite the fact of it's invasive attitude towards governments around the world.