"A Gallup Poll released Wednesday suggests about 53 percent of Americans rejects the theory of evolution as the explanation for the origin of humans.

Instead, they believe God created humans at one time 'as is,' the survey showed.

About 31 percent of respondents said they believe humans evolved, but God guided the process. Only 1.2 percent said they believe the scientific theory of evolution and 'God had no part.'"

What this indicates is that almost half the population has problems with what is considered non-debatable scientific knowledge within the science community. The belief in the biblical description of the creation of man implies that much of geology, earth science, climatology and historical anthropology must be disregarded as well.

If this is true, then it implies that people of faith believe their religious leaders more than they do others such as scientists and politicians. This may partially explain why there is little resistance to the fall in secularism in government. If people are more comfortable with their religious leaders they are willing to see them having a greater role in government as well.

Without dealing with this type of worldview, I don't see how much progress can be made in the efforts to keep church and state separate. Distrust in science leads to distrust in government which causes a reversion to trust in religion. Arguments about free speech and the ability to practice one's own particular religion without state interference just don't seem strong enough to me, to alter the present attitudes.

Without addressing this framework, I'm not convinced that the separation efforts will be effective. If this site is not the right forum for these sorts of discussions, fine, but the problem will still need to be addressed at some point.