Written by Don Byrd
A new poll from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows Americans, by a 66%-27% margin, continue to oppose the endorsement of candidates by churches and other houses of worship. The numbers are similar to the 70%-24% spread on the same question in 2010. While we don’t want politics in our religion, the poll shows we do want religion in our politics.
Two-thirds of adults (67%) say it is important for the president to have strong religious beliefs. This number is down since 2008 (72%), but is similar to polls conducted during the 2004 and 2000 elections (70%).
The consistent importance of religion matches another survey finding from a May 2011 poll, which found 61% of adults say they would be less likely to support a presidential candidate who does not believe in God. Of 14 items tested, this was the only potential trait that a clear majority of Americans said would affect their vote negatively.
Eight-in-ten Republicans (81%) say it is important to have a president with strong religious beliefs, which is significantly higher than the number of Democrats (66%) and independents (60%) who say this. Similar partisan divisions have existed since this question was first asked in 2000.
“Important” may mean different things to different people, since more than 10% atheists and agnostics also said yes to this question. But a strong majority of Americans, no matter how you look at it, want a religious person in the nation’s highest office.
