Anon has always believed that America elected representatives that act as our "Civil Priests". The following is the AI response, and Wiki response.

To understand the role of a civic priest, consider the following points:

A civic priest serves as a religious leader within a community, often linked to local governance.

They perform rituals and ceremonies that promote civic values and community cohesion.

Civic priests may engage in social issues, advocating for the welfare of the community.

They often collaborate with local authorities to address moral and ethical concerns.

Their role can include educating the public on civic responsibilities and community engagement.

Civic priests may also act as mediators in conflicts, fostering dialogue and understanding.

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American civil religion is a sociological theory that a nonsectarian civil religion exists within the United States with sacred symbols drawn from national history.

Scholars have portrayed it as a common set of values that foster social and cultural integration. The ritualistic elements of ceremonial deism found in American ceremonies and presidential invocations of God can be seen as expressions of the American civil religion.

The concept goes back to the 19th century, but the current form of this theory was developed by sociologist Robert Bellah in 1967 in the article "Civil Religion in America".[1] According to him, many Americans embrace a common civil religion with certain fundamental beliefs, values, symbols, holidays, and rituals in parallel to, or independent of, their chosen religion.

Bellah's article soon became the major focus at religious sociology conferences, and numerous articles and books were written on the subject. Interest in the topic peaked with the United States Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

Theory

Bellah posits that Americans have come to see the document of the United States Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, as cornerstones of a type of civil religion or political religion. Political sociologist Anthony Squiers argues that these texts act as the sacred writ of the American civil religion because they are used as authoritative symbols in what he calls the politics of the sacred. The politics of the sacred, according to Squiers, are "the attempt to define and dictate what is in accord with the civil religious sacred and what is not. It is a battle to define what can and cannot be and what should and should not be tolerated and accepted in the community, based on its relation to that which is sacred for that community."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_civil_religion

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The Apotheosis of Washington

The Apotheosis of Washington is the fresco painted by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

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The Apotheosis of Washington depicts George Washington sitting among the heavens in an exalted manner, or in literary terms, ascending and becoming a god (apotheosis). Washington, the first U.S. president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, is allegorically represented, surrounded by figures from classical mythology.

George Washington is draped in purple, worn by generals of the ancient Roman Republic during their triumphs, with a rainbow arch at his feet, flanked by the goddess Victoria, who is draped in green, blowing a horn, to his left and the goddess Liberty to his right. Liberty wears a red liberty cap, symbolizing emancipation, from a Roman tradition where slaves being manumitted would be given a felt cap (Latin pileus). She holds a fasces in her right hand and an open book in the other, to which George Washington gestures with his right hand.

Forming a circle between Liberty and Victory are 13 maidens, each with a star above her head representing the original Thirteen Colonies. Several of the maidens have their backs turned to George Washington, said[by whom?] to represent the colonies that had seceded from the Union at the time of painting. Across the circle from George Washington is the banner E Pluribus Unum, Latin for "out of many, one".

Surrounding George Washington, the two goddesses and the 13 maidens are six scenes lining the perimeter, each representing a national concept allegorically: from directly below George Washington in the center and moving clockwise, "War", "Science", "Marine", "Commerce", "Mechanics" and "Agriculture". The perimeter scenes are not fully visible from the floor of the United States Capitol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington