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During this year's primaries, candidates followed this script. They spoke warmly and personally about their faith, but in general terms that should have caused no offense. Romney and Obama made major faith-oriented speeches only when media attention forced them to clarify connections.

Unfortunately, many in the national media sensed the political importance of religion without understanding what deeply religious Americans are really interested in. Some created an embarrassing sideshow out of candidates' particular religious connections, endlessly replaying gotcha quotes. Others, given the chance to surface connections between faith and policy, reverted to Good Morning America-level human-interest chatter.

None of this means that political strategists should shy away from specific religion. The recent U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows that American voters are remarkably open to other people's faith. Desiring freedom for their own beliefs and practices, Americans ignore the "exclusivity clauses" in their own religions as they relate to neighbors of other faiths. "While Americans may have firm religious commitments, they are unwilling to impose them on other people," the Pew Forum's John Green said.

A better prepared press could help candidates and campaigns be specific about faith in helpful ways. Understanding how candidates' faith histories shaped them to face the challenges of public office can only help the democratic process. Without firm theological convictions, a great leader such as Abraham Lincoln could not have risen above bitterly partisan forces to serve the good of the nation. Can candidates articulate the connections between their faith and the decisions they will need to make? Will faith help them just say no to the corrupting influences of special interests? Will it enable them to break free of political inertia to meet challenges before they become crises?

The press and the campaigns can do much to elucidate candidates' religion in concrete detail that goes beyond civil religion and still strengthens our common bonds.

Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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August 2008, Vol. 52, No. 8