How to distract TEMPorary (life) from ongoing (inception towards death)? Suggest a larger than life edifice (temple) for one to hold onto.

In other words...suggest longevity to distract from expiration.

Well, here in the U.K., our government departments are called Ministries

I suppose the Vatican did that after the Zeus thing. But with a giant cross.

Government is not a religion, but it certainly was built by the religious initiates from a variety of secret societies

You think that's bad...

https://www.dzstatue.com/stone-famous-sculpture/horatio-greenough-george-washington-zeus-statue.html