A lot of people don’t realize that the Bill of Rights only restrict the federal government until Reconstruction. Prior to the 14th Amendment and the resulting Supreme Court decisions, states were free to regulate religion, speech, etc..
“Prior to the 14th Amendment and the resulting Supreme Court decisions, states were free to regulate religion, speech, etc..”
The Incorporation Doctrine does not actually flow from the 14th Amendment. The Supremes simply made it up.
They invented it. Whole cloth. It’s not real. It has no actual connection.
To use the more pointed word: The Supreme Court lied.