The Social Disintegration of Morality

The foundation of my essay was birthed through an idea written on the prompt, to question whether or not Theology was too Strict a basis for Governing. In my essay, I am going to focus on the Evolution (or De-evolution) of morality and a need for God in Society. Based on how people are judged and the social ladder in a God-Fearing community such as the one featured in The Scarlet Letter, and how the same things are determined in a society such as modern day, middle-class America, I will examine why Theology wanes from public importance. Today, the national anthem is banned from schools because God is mentioned, where as in a Puritan Boston, everyone believes in God and small steps from the Straight and Narrow are scorned upon. Is it the better living condition and comfortability that slowly Graduated the masses against religion? Is it that science now can explain almost all natural phenomena, whereas in the past, anything not understood would be contributed to an act of God? If I have completely missed the point of the essay (which I have a nagging feeling that I did), please tell me.