Religion in Decline?

Being atheist, I shouldn't care much about this story but, in a way, it saddens me. After all, I strongly believe that societies need a core religion.

Religions reflect (and create) the core moral authority of a society. From ancient times, religion has been the concept around which civilization has grown. Some of these religions have been bizarre and even violent (think human and animal sacrifices). Most religions have been the basis for governments, in my view, and have certainly facilitated the legitimacy of the ruler(s).

While many believe religion is the cause of wars, I think religion has also been the impetus for peace. Religion has been used to recruit armies and there have been religious based wars but most wars, even the ones notably religious in nature, have been about resources and land. Even the infamous Crusades were more about fighting against an encroachment than about destroying a rival religion. Today's Jihad by the radical Islamists is about amassing power more than defeating Chritianity.

I would be saddened if the rich tapestry of religion declined in America but I understand it. I heard a random person on the street claim that, as societies advance, they become more secular. I think that is because government tries to take the place of religion. And that is natural because I believe that governments and religion have always been locked in a battle for the hearts and minds of the people.