After the American revolution and the legal separation of church and state, the churches were all on an equal footing and they did not directly control nor participate in the affairs of government. Throughout the nineteenth century, the preachers were very influential, but their actual power of creating or guiding opinion slowly but certainly dwindled, as politicians and newspaper editors grew more powerful and as secular affairs, beyond the control of the church, grew in recognized importance. At the beginning of the twentieth century, preachers still had a great deal of prestige and influence, and the churches held on to their special privileges, chief among these being the privilege of tax exemption. Science and liberalism have added, in the first decades of the twentieth century, to the brilliancy and power of secular history. Yet the majority of Americans do not attend church, do not believe in church doctrines and are not interested in supporting the church.
Skepticism grows steadily.
Secular affairs are foremost. Religion is dying, although the church flourishes as a social and business institution. Throughout all its hanging history the church has been distinguished by its two ruling motives of bigotry and greed. This progress has been secular in character. Our age, in all that is beneficent and hopeful and civilized, is irreligious.