Imagine 'Murica without religion

[Silver]

Tbh I have no idea how it ever reached its current level of scientific progress with religious fundamentalism seemingly built in at its very core and exerting its influence at every step.

Actually, you have it backwards.  Perhaps the highlight of our scientific endeavor was the moon landing in 1969.  Once we did that and could pat ourselves on the back for "beating the russians" most people lost interest.  The Apollo program ended in 1972 the same year Nixon was elected to his second term.  The country dissolved into Watergate hysteria and all of a sudden everything was political.

The religious right grew up in the aftermath of our great technological achievement.  Allow me to quote a well-know republican.

In the past couple years, I have seen many news items that referred to the Moral Majority, prolife and other religious groups as "the new right," and the "new conservatism." Well, I have spent quite a number of years carrying the flag of the old conservatism. And I can say with conviction that the religious issues of these groups have little or nothing to do with conservative or liberal politics.  The uncompromising position of these groups is a divisive element that could tear apart the very spirit of our representative system, if they gain sufficient strength.

As it is, they are diverting us away from the vital issues that our Government needs to address. Far too much of the time of members of Congress and officials in the Executive Branch is used up dealing with special-interest groups on issues like abortion, school busing, ERA, prayer in the schools and pornography. While these are important moral issues, they are secondary right now to our national security and economic survival.


Sen Barry Goldwater  1981

The stupidification of 'Murrica has proceeded from there.

Indeed, interest in science is at an all time low. It steadily went down after the moon landing, as Min stated.