Separating Religion From Politics

Americans are backing away from mixing religion and politics, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. For the first time in more than a decade, a majority of the American public thinks that religious institutions should stay out of political affairs.

Most of the shift in opinion has been among conservatives. "Four years ago, just 30% of conservatives believed that churches and other houses of worship should stay out of politics." Pew says. "Today, 50% of conservatives express this view." Conservative opinion on this matter is now much closer to liberal and moderate opinion, which has not much changed.

The biggest shift of opinion has been among social conservatives. The very people who were most keenly interested in using government to impose their values -- opposing same-sex marriage, for example -- are the same group showing the biggest shift in opinion in favor of keeping religion out of politics. Any ideas why that might be true?