Can we be good without God?

American society is deeply rooted in political and religious ideals. The early settlers who came to America were interested in promoting their religion and furthering their political ideals. Initially, this was done under the direction of their mother country. The settlers soon discovered freedom to practice their own political and religious desires because the old homeland was too far away to enforce any rules.
The settlers soon realized if they were to survive as a country they would need to tolerate each other's religious differences and agree on a new political codes. These changes were difficult and slow. Not all Americans were religious, with the new freedom to practice religion came the freedom to not practice as well. The original authors of the Constitution were not all religious, some were well known atheists and agnostics. Tolerance in all forms became the norm.
Tinder weaves a delicate and tender argument that believes it is necessary to have God and political ambitions entwined. Tinder asks, "If we turn away ....from God, ....what will deliver us from a politically fatal fear?" ( Beedles 86). Tinder uses various tones, formal and casual, to appeal to his reader on a familiar basis and on a scholarly level. Tinder fears for the future because he believes without God our future is unstable.
I believe that religions are still continuing to grow and flourish, but perhaps not in a traditional way preferred by Tinder. I've attended church at the drag races and I know services are also held at coffee houses. Goodness is embedded in our political systems. Some of our laws mimic the ten commandments, which is from the Bible. Christians often refer to the Bible as God's word. Morality can be justified without a religious background. In this country, it's hard to escape religion because it's everywhere in our society, from the Pledge of Allegiance to our laws.