What role does religion play in the US?

Religion plays a great role in the US. It's kind of obvious. The motto that the country is known by in : " In God We Trust." The reason for this is simple. Early colonisers of the country (The British) were not randomly looking for land. They were looking to extend their religious beliefs. Of course British colonisers came across many countries that they have greatly influenced. But they were amazed by North America's supposedly endless resources. Eventually, religion began to play a great part in the lives of the population of the colonies.

Because of how powerful religion was, the motto came up naturally. If you are refering to present day US then religion doesn't that big of a part of its constitution.

The British had one church and religion and everyone HAD to go to church every day and twice on Sunday. My grandfather did. This is why they came here not just for religious freedom but freedom from religion! Read what our founding fathers say about organized religion and religion in general. But plenty of pioneers and people looking for ways to make money also came here.

So it was not as much as most people think. In god we trust was put in at the end of the 1800' not by the founders. Most people do not go to church and do not let their religious beliefs get in the way of politics or how they raise their children. Just look it up.