from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religiosity

The question is, does welfare spending discourage religiosity, or does religiosity discourage welfare spending?

My guess is that naturally authoritarian societies tend to be more religious. Although America was originally settled by people from Western Europe (which is highly secular now), there was a strong selection effect at work; people came to America not so much to escape religious persecution as to be able to practice it with impunity.

The founding fathers understood this, and wisely included in the new nation's constitution an Enlightenment spirit of secular humanism and religious freedom, and political guarantees of freedom of conscience. But they were exceptional men, and not necessarily representative of the culture and population of the new nation.

It may not be politically correct to point this out, but I feel this explains to a great extent the constellation of related cultural characteristics that still largely identifies and is associated with Americans of Northern European descent. Americans from Southern and Eastern European and New World roots were more economic and political refugees than religious ones. They were not proselytizing, they just wanted to be left alone.

This constellation is comprised of nationalism, racism, militarism, nativism, laissez-faire capitalism, cultural authoritaianism, anti-intellectualism, intolerance and religious fundamentalism (usually Protestant), not to mention a feeling of cultural superiority and exceptionalism. Although perhaps not noticeable to Americans of Anglo-Saxon roots, even fully secular ones, this is strikingly obvious to those with deep roots and awareness of their own cultural conections to the Old Country.

Neither do I mean to imply this "national character" as being a wholly negative characteristic, either. "Traditional" Americans also exhibit an extreme sense of civic and community responsibility, a natural generosity, great hospitality to strangers and what may be loosely described as a sense of personal responsibility and moderation in personal and emotional habits which is quite admirable and beneficial, although it may be interpreted by outsiders as coldness and indifference. Americans take their place in line, not becaused they are sheep and easily ordered about, but because it is the right thing to do.

Of course, these are all general characteristics, not genetic factors, and they are noticeable as cultural trends applicable on a sociological level. Individuals, like individuals everywhere, will always exhibit great variation. But I don't think it can be denied that there are also two basic waves of immigration that comprise this country, those primarily from the British Isles came during colonial times and shortly after, and the great waves of immigration that came after the industrial revolution, mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe, and now, Latin America. Cultural assimilation has taken place, but it usually lags behind. The Irish and Italians have only recently started to become fully accepted, and the Africans, who have been here from the very beginning, still have a long way to go.

That original population feels itself threatened, in a minority, and feels a sense of unease and discomfort. I believe this to be a major component in the so-called "culture wars" and climate of political divisiveness that seems to be becoming a major component of American life.