Regardless of our feelings on religion, it is beyond question that it will
play a part in politics and government for the foreseeable future of this
country. Even those politicians that claim to set their religious views
aside while voting on legislation are trying to fool themselves or you.
That said, over the past few generations, the majority of Americans appear
to be moving away from affiliated religion or have become more
progressive/ tolerant in their view and practices. I believe that this
will lead to religion affecting the role of government less as the years
progress.
Ironically, this can caused people to actually become more zealous in
their religious views. There is a political theory that spills over
into religion (I forget the name of the theory, if anyone can find it,
it would be appreciated) that says something along the line of that
however strong your opposition is, the more it drives people to support
radical sects against them. A great example is the hippies. That were
only able to grow so popular because the Vietnam War and once the war
was ended, they lost much drive.
This theory can be seen by anyone who has ever been the Bible belt. As
the government makes decisions that they believe go against God (gay
marriage, abortion, the sales of contraceptives) the sects gain support
and grow more radical and look to influence the government. Just look at
the support that Mike Huckabee got last election and he was actually
considered a popular candidate, If Romney had dropped sooner he might
have gotten the party nomination.
Here is a little video of them training kids to do just that. Around
minute four they begin talking specifically about the government. I have
to preface this with I really don’t care what anyone believes, but doing
this to kids, scares me to no end.