In a speech to the Virginia legislature, “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” that he made in 1785, James Madison said:

“Ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of Religion, have had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.”

Even Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, knew of the dangers of religion in government and set up one that was secular,

Actually, the “American Taliban” refers to the far right “tea party, alt-right Republicans,” not to the evangelicals. To that point, here is the mythical Will McAvoy in the equally mythical Newsroom (HBO) talking about the American Taliban, using the words of the brilliant Aaron Sorkin

https://youtu.be/yGAvwSp86hY