It is the ultimate mark of respect for the state and society to say that your religious belief is absolutely none of its business, other than protecting you from persecution, discrimination or interference for believing it.

... which is why, in my view, freedom *of* religion should automatically confer freedom *from* religion. If I can choose which one to follow, will all the government protections, I should be able to choose to follow none, and have none imposed on me, whether directly or by politicians' beliefs.

Exactly so!