Candidates and Beliefs

In a Septermber, 2007 posting, the PEW FORUM looked at religion and politics. Among diverse findings, the PEW FORUM offered this: "Roughly six-in-ten Americans (61%) say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who does not believe in God, while 45% say they would be reluctant to vote for a Muslim. At the same time, more people express reservations about voting for a Mormon (25%) than about supporting a candidate who is an evangelical Christian (16%), a Jew (11%) or a Catholic (7%)." (http://pewforum.org/surveys/campaign08/)

In my estimation such statistics place a distinct burden on candidates to proclaim belief, and perhaps of a particular kind. And isn't this a tacit religious test contrary to the spirit of the First Amendment?

I'd love to see a candidate or two move us toward a greater appreciation of what freedom of religion means in the grand and great scheme of the Republic. As I look back over the past couple of months, Mitt Romney had the opportunity to do so but pandered to the 61%.