There is statistical evidence of a wave of secularization in almost all European countries since the end of World War II — going hand in hand with social modernization. By contrast, for the United States all data show that the comparatively large proportion of the population made up of devout and religiously active citizens has remained constant over the last six decades. More importantly: the religious Right is not traditionalist. Precisely because it unleashes a spontaneous energy for revivalism, it causes paralyzing irritation among its secular opponents.

Jürgen Habermas, Religion in the Public Sphere [pdf]