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I have come to the conclusion that while a candidate's faith matters, what's most important is how he or she applies that faith.

Do I think faith will be an important part of being a good president? Yes, I do.

If you're going to vote for somebody because you think they have a great faith in God, you'd better be sure that God has faith in them.

It's important to ask candidates about their beliefs, in part because politicians frequently exploit religious faith - often with the idea that voters will be more likely to unthinkingly accept certain political positions so long as they arise from religious belief.

We've seen what happens when it serves a president's interest to flaunt his faith - which is almost inevitably does, since every poll affirms that Americans want their leader to submit to some higher power.

I think there ought to be a strict separation or wall built between our religious faith and our practice of political authority in office. I don't think the President of the United States should extoll Christianity if he happens to be a Christian at the expense of Judaism, Islam or other faiths.

The question Americans should ask is not whether a candidate is affiliated with a particular faith but rather whether that candidate's faith makes it more likely he or she will support policies that align with their values.

You cannot be President of the United States if you don't have faith. Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial in the Civil War and all that stuff.

Any candidate who claims his religion has no influence on his decisions is either a dishonest politician or a shallow follower of his faith.