America is mainly a religious country because, from its very inception, it gained the reputation as a haven for those fleeing religious persecution. Although the picture of religious freedom that existed in the colonies can be overdrawn, there's no doubt that, for many people, America really was a place where they could practice their faith free from government persecution and intolerance. At that time in Europe, religion wasn't just a private matter—it was inextricably linked with politics. If you practiced the "wrong" religion, you were liable to wind up in prison or even executed.
The separation of church and state has also been an important factor. This has encouraged the growth of a profusion of many different churches and faiths, each one taking full advantage of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which states that Congress shall make no law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
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