"The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of our Founding Fathers...The Founding Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance." - Dr. Ron Paul
I note that no one keyed on the word "rigid". That's typical 4chan faggotry to assume Ron Paul is a religitard. "OH NOES!11!one! PRESIDENT PAUL WOULD PASS A LAW MAKING US KISS CRUCIFIXES!!!11!eleven!1!"
Religious feelings did form a strong foundation for the culture of the American Republic. Unfortunately, people just started to worship money instead, which is socially damaging. (Of course, worhipping an imaginary, giant alien space monster is also fairly damaging to a thinking culture, but I digress.)