Modern politics have become the new religion (culturally)

Many may be surprised to learn that the moniker denoting 'Red' and 'Blue' America (as defined by respectively Republican and Democrat regions) - only came into being during the George W. Bush administration.  It was around the same time, that large religious populations and groups made a steep decline.  Many reasons can be contemplated for the large mass of Americans that started moving away from organized religion, but regardless of why they moved away - politics has interestingly filled that void in the culture.  Part of the heated and contentious division in our country is problematic because people are using their political party to define who they are.  To explain that they are good people.  They are moral.  They are on the right side, much in the same way many people used to feel secure as a 'good person' because they went to XYZ church and was part of XYZ community.  When someone signifies their membership to any tribe or organization as a piece of their identity, and then makes that organization the only moral, good guy option - and mountain of self-righteousness now stands between them and anyone on the other team.