Reply #5: probably several reasons

[tocqueville]

1) it was founded by religious refugees. Most of them would be considered as sects today in modern Europe.

2) the American Revolution never really "made up" with religion to the difference from the French for example. The separation of Church and State is not really clear.

3) the lack of a powerful socialist movement at the turn of the last century (to the difference from most European countries) resulted in that the lack of solidarity between the poor was replaced by religious charity

It's interesting to note that the shock of 9/11 was very much absorbed by religious rituals. Such a phenomenon couldn't be seen in Spain or Britain after the bombings. Some masses, that's normal, but no mass prayer and candle vigils.