Religion is understood in terms of its sociological and psychological significance, discounting any claims to divine revelation and absolute truth. Furthermore, the church as an institution has lost its privileged position and increasingly occupies a place on the margins of society alongside other recreational and nonprofit organizations.
This is not universally true. Educational and political elites may see the church as only having psychological or sociological value but the pews (and voting booths) are filled with believers
The churches by dint of effective platforms of public influence, access to voters and sheer wealth in terms of hard assets are still at the center of American power structures. Witness the tea party success
