Church and State may not be as separated as some think.
When faith in external government systems fails, faith in God subsequently increases, according to a recent study published in the November issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Five researchers examined how instability in government order, ranging from economic turmoil to impending elections, affects individual psychological functioning. They based their findings on an analysis of historical trends and past research, as well as four experiments they designed.
The study highlights the psychological importance of personal control of one’s destiny in providing security. When someone feels personal matters are out of control, an external force — either government or God — can ensure things are under control. The order provided by a higher power or karma is thought to be common to almost all religions.
The paper claims belief in God and government serve overlapping functions as providers of structured, nonrandom, orderly worlds. The researchers also write that government and God may be substitutable.
This is consistent with the findings of Phil Zuckerman on how the most healthy societies tend to have high degrees of organic atheism, while unhealthy societies tend to be highly religious.
When people do not understand something eg why the govt is failing them, or how the universe was created or why are flowers so beautiful they say it was God who did it if it was good or beyond comprehension. When they don't believe god did it, they look to him for protection and as long as they believe in him they will be ok. Of course we could just as easily be more child-like and believe in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus – they are fictional too and nobody has seen them either. But children believe because they KNOW that they exist. The only difference is adulthood.
Honestly, I think it's a little messed up if someone decides to start believing in God just because the governmental system is failing them. God should be something present in the individual's life at all times if the individual truly believes in Him. You can't just switch your beliefs on and off cause of some election or economic turmoil.