Yes, I think we all know that security theater is absurd. It’s absurd for us to remove our shoes; my loafers are not a threat. It’s absurd for us to remove our hats, and it’s absurd for us to have our jackets X-rayed.
But as you say, you’re just presenting a meaningless logic puzzle. I don’t know of any religion that deems shoes holy, or insists that you hold a crucifix aloft. But there’s a real religion called Sikhism that Waris belongs to which has uncut hair covered with a turban as part of their practice. Rather than dance around it with a logic puzzle, can we just agree that Sikhs should be treated with dignity when they ask for it, and not be forced to do something deeply shameful for them in public?
