If voluntary religion is generally peaceful why not a voluntary society?

Christianity, in the last 250, years has seen itself become more and more divorced from western society.  In America, for instance, you are not required to belong to any type of religion to function within society.  This is a relative new development in human history.  You can make the argument that the agnostic feels persecuted, but at the end of the day it is simply that, a feeling.  Much like my choice to be a Libertarian warrants looks of scorn, but at the end of the day it does nothing to deter my philosophy.  

How did Christianity lose its much of its ability to be physically, financially, and educationally coercive?  The simple answer is western society turned from State Religion to Voluntary Religion.  

This isn't to say their aren't those who are leaders in the faith that have become corrupted in the modern day.  This isn't to say that the worst don't sometimes rise to the top in the Christian faith, but despite the truth that some spiritual leaders are corrupt their net effect on society's ability to resist what they espouse is negligible.  In the west, once you become an adult you can decide what you do or don't believe, and no one can tell you differently in this context.

Contrast this with corrupt leaders within the State.  They continue to have overwhelming force over the population.  This means their ideals must be the accepted ideals or you pay the consequence.  For instance I have to pay taxes, social security, medicare/aid etc...my earnings are forcefully taken by the State to finance their ultimately corrupt/inefficient goals.

Consider if a religious leader could accomplish this somehow.  Doesn't the very notion offend the individualist in us all?  

Ask Yourself

Does western society need religion by force?  500 years ago the answer would have been an emphatic yes.  In the modern day the answer isn't quite so simple.  Many would say they (as an individual) need religion, but most in the west will acquiesce that the need shouldn't be satisfied by force.

Does western society need a State established by force?  I simply don't think humanity is ready to answer that question honestly...