Yuyutsu,
You leave me speechless !

Hi Yuyutsu,

A bit confused with a couple of points in your post above.

<<religion is so much more than just thoughts and beliefs - it manifests in actions>>

<<the only way I can see, is for the powers of the land (presently states and their governments) to err on the side of caution and never forcibly interfere in the actions of people, lest they accidentally interfere with their religion.>>

News has it that 'The Church Of The Holy Orgy' plans to sacrifice an infant child at 10am this morning as part of their rituals. This has been well publicised, the parents who are church members have given consent etc. Question; should the State err on the side of caution and not interfere with these peoples religion

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Dear Yuyutsu,

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You wrote :

1. « How easy it is and seemingly noble to protect thoughts and beliefs, but this is only a lip-service into the protection of religion because religion is so much more than just thoughts and beliefs - it manifests in actions (e.g. worship and rituals) and perhaps even more importantly in the abstinence from other proscribed actions »
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Freedom of religion is much more than protecting just “ thoughts and beliefs”. I suggest you read the general comment of the Human Rights Committee of the CCPR to which I posted a link in my previous post – articles 7 & 8 in particular.

The prescription for freedom of action is as large as possible – provided it is not immoral, does not encroach on the freedom of others, and causes no harm.
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2. « …beliefs can come and go as indeed occurred in your own personal history »
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No, Yuyutsu, belief [in the supernatural] did not “come and go” in my “personal history”. I reserved my judgment all my life until I finished studying the question. I never ceased being “an ordinary person” (or “freethinker”). It was only when I understood how the concept of the supernatural and the god hypothesis came about that I was able to conclude that there was no supernatural nor God. They were simply the best explanation of life and the universe that primeval man was capable of conceiving at the time, given his limited possibilities.

And although those primitive explanations have since been largely superseded by modern science, I realised that it would be many more generations before most people could possibly apprehend and accept that reality. The primeval beliefs had become so deeply and firmly embedded in the human psyche and culture, they represented a quasi-insurmountable existential barrier for the large majority of humanity.
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3. God as a cinema screen …
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I too see God as a cinema screen, Yuyutsu – regrettably, nothing more than a cinema screen – on which people project their personal faith, hope, and trust.

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"At its spring general assembly last week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted to move ahead on the drafting of a statement on “the Meaning of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” The proposed document would discuss, among other topics, the question of Eucharistic worthiness — when to restrict public figures from receiving Communion due to their disagreements with church teachings." - Washington Post.

This is squarely aimed at the Catholic president Joe Biden and his support for the 'Pro Choice' movement for women on abortion in the US. Biden is a practicing Catholic and some are concerned with this attempt by the Church hierarchy to influence political policy by withholding the important sacrament of communion from Biden. BTW The Catholic Church in America has no problem administering communion to convicted mass murders.

Hi Paul,

Well I guess that answers my question -
"Is it wrong to criticize religion."

In this case - a definite - NO!

I remember the time Cardinal Pell refused to give
communion to gays at St Marys Cathedral in Sydney.

Cringeworthy action for a supposed follower of Christ.

Paul you claim Biden is a practicing Catholic, this is false, he does not accept the tenants of the Catholic faith when he takes taxpayer money to fund 1,000 abortions each day and the use infant body parts for science. Biden justifies the murder of 365,000 innocent lives each year and hales those that perform this murder as heroes. He is worse than any ritual sacrifice of a child in the name of your religious example. Child sacrifice happens by the 1,000 each day in America. Biden does not protect the innocent.

Religion as Yuyutsu says also involves acts, it is the life lived.