As a politician who cherishes religious conviction in his personal sphere, but regards politics as a domain belonging outside religion, I believe that this view is seriously flawed.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The question is not whether personal spiritual beliefs shape a politician's values and policies, but what spiritual beliefs mold those values and policies.
Any candidate who claims his religion has no influence on his decisions is either a dishonest politician or a shallow follower of his faith.
I think that we are at a point in our country where we're trying to decide what role should religion play in the political arena.
I think religion is as flawed an enterprise as any other human endeavor, but the interests and ambitions of religion are the right interests and ambitions.
Religion has to stay in the heart, not in politics. It is private.
Among politicians the esteem of religion is profitable; the principles of it are troublesome.
Whether one believes or not, religion is as real a force in the life of the world as economics or politics, and it demands fair-minded attention. Even if you think the entire religious enterprise is at best misguided and at worst counterproductive, it remains vital, inspiring great good and, sometimes, great evil.
Politics is really religion. Politics is about sacredness. Politics is about offering a vision that will bind the nation together to pursue greatness.
Our government should be entirely and purely secular. The religious views of a candidate should be kept entirely out of sight.
Politics in America is the binding secular religion.