What would it mean in the USA if someone succeeded in persuading the public that, in order to protect religion, the government should regulate it? The government regulates historic sites, river water, and bald eagles, all in the name of protecting them. What would happen if citizens accepted the hypothesis that the government needs to regulate religion in order to protect it? What might that look like?

Christians have good reason to conduct this mind experiment, because if they ignore the problem, they may find themselves ensnared in it.  

China is an example of a country where the government alleges to be protecting religion by regulating it. The history of religion in China is beyond the scope of this post, but the information is easily uncovered in a Google search. It is China’s current status with regard to religious freedom that is of interest.  

In China, there are…