If context matters much, in the 2012 Republican platform, most uses of the word “God” are actually in the expression “God-given,” as in “God-given talent,” “God-given resources,” and “God-given natural beauty.” This use carries an enormous amount of subtext, especially considering its conspicuousness in light of the constitutional separation of church and state, but it sidesteps any substantial articulation of the role the party intends to have religion The two uses of “God” that signal actual policy are the ones that are really relevant: “. Reaffirm that our rights come from God,…” appears in the preamble,although they don’t bother explaining that bit of nonsense. And a bit about the flag condems “activist judges” denying children the opportunity to say “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance at state schools. The Democratic platform’s sole use of the word only occurs in the phrase “God-given potential.” It’s interesting to see, as Yrro noted, how divisive even that rhetorical flourish was.Primary source geeks – the party platforms from decades past make for a fascinating read. The Democrats in 1924 closed their platform with this statement on relations with Latin America: “The democratic party sends to these republics its cordial greeting; God has made us neighbors—justice shall keep us friends.”  It’s hard to tell if this usage would have been controversial at the time.However, when the Republicans dropped the G-bomb in 1948, they meant business: “We pledge a vigorous enforcement of existing laws against Communists and enactment of such new legislation as may be necessary to expose the treasonable activities of Communists and defeat their objective of establishing here a godless dictatorship controlled from abroad.”

Even the faithful would have very good reason to be wary of their favorite deity being inserted into a political platform. 

The real story about the re-insertion of God and Israel is that it was done at the behest of party leadership, over the strong objections of the actual delegates to the convention.