Avoided? I am proposing that we let the religious right have their way. I say we divide this country into two and let the jesus freaks do what they want on their side of the border. I'd really love to see what kinds of technological and social advancements they'd have 10, 20, 30, 50 years after seperation. It ought to be interesting.
Well as an interesting social experiment I have to say I would be tempted

The idea of letting all the fundamentalists implode in their own nation state asylum is also not without some appeal to me

However in practise I don't think dividing people up on religious grounds will do anything other than create multiple warring factions each thinking they have God on their side and the divine right to the land and wealth of the various inferior and thus inhuman dibelievers in the one true God.
So was Buddha's teachings.
Take your pick as far as I am concerned. Peace and tolerance ahead of divisiveness and war is all I am advocating. Buddha, yoga or Dungeons and Dragons is all fine by me if it has the desired effect.