[fallingknife]

That has been the case since the industrial revolution, though. My theory is that political affiliation has taken the place of religion. Particularly on the left, but you can see a lot of it happening on the right now too since Christianity has declined in influence in the Republican party.

[collaborative]

Spot on. At the end of the day it's a lot less harmful to worship an invisible being than an idealised visible entity

[fallingknife]

I think you may be on to something here. But I think that in terms of US politics, the stabilizing factor was that, until recently, both parties shared the same religion. Even up to the 90's, being Christian was very much a requirement for Democratic presidential candidates.

[DarylZero]

How is it not now? Dems never nominated a non-Christian candidate for Pres.

[emteycz]

Hard disagree. The visible entity is still human, and can be wrong, even if it takes a lot to recognize it. God's can't be wrong whatever they do, however inhuman it is.

[bellyfullofbac]

As a leftie, but who can't relate to the many demands they now have (e.g. cancel culture), did Christianity influence the GOP? Or is it more the GOP saying "We are Christians" and what "Christianity" means to them is whatever they say it is?

[fallingknife]

I think it used to be the former, and is now more like the latter. And I think that as Christianity, independent of the GOP, continues to be less of a political force, you will see a brand of Republican religion without reference to Christianity. I think the beginnings of this can be seen in the purging of Liz Cheney, who, until very recently, was a canonical Republican. Now it is basically heretical in the Republican party to go against Trump. Also Trump is the first Republican presidential candidate that I can remember who didn't make a show out of his Christian faith, and didn't seem to be hurt by it.

[DarylZero]

But he still kind of did just by choosing Mike Pence as VP.

[AnimalMuppet]

And Trump is a perfect demonstration of a political party having "religious zeal" unanchored to a religion. He's close to a God figure to some people. Those people and Christians really need to be in separate political parties.

[RandomLensman]

Not sure that is totally true since the industrial revolution. 50 years ago when learning how to drive there was a lot of learning on how a car works, for example. That is completely gone now.