Network States

The Church is one of the best examples of a network state. A distributed organization with shared values, that owned property and was able to collected taxes (tithes) from its members. 

Are network states in part an attempt at filling the void left by a lack of religion in the western world?

Building /nounspace | Founding Member /atxdao | Creating community and good vibes wherever I go.

Almost. The rise of the nation state came at the expense of the church. Network states hope to capitalize on the weakening of the nation states

They're not necessarily filling the role as a moral guide, but rather the administrative role that organized religion used to serve