Original sentence: A state established religion within a political system implies preferential treatment of one tradition at the expense of others.State atheism should not be confused either with anti-clericalism – the effort to reduce the power of the clergy, especially in politics – or with a state's decision to refrain from having an established religion
Edited sentence: A state-sponsored religion within a political system implies preferential treatment of one tradition at the expense of others; thus the separation of church and state is one way to protect religious minorities.State atheism should not be confused either with anti-clericalism – the effort to reduce the power of the clergy, especially in politics – or with religious neutrality, in which a government recognizes the legal necessity of the separation of church and state