Why Do Candidates For USA Presidency Feel The Need To Disclose Their Religion?

Unfortunately, a candidate's religion seems to be of importance to many people in the US. I don't know quite where this 'tradition' arose ... it was either because some voters demanded to know or because the media thought they should know. Now, it seems, a candidate is thought to be hiding something if they don't disclose their religion and the media will very quickly find out (accurately or not) and publish the fact. America is a paranoid country in many ways. In fact, many non-Americans would say that it is exhibiting (collectively) serious signs of mental illness. I would never vote or not vote for a candidate purely on the grounds of their religious beliefs, though if they admitted to being devotees of certain marginal religions, I would be inclined to look rather carefully at their fitness to govern a country of many different religions. So, yes, a person's religion DOES have a bearing on how I might vote but only inasmuch as it might throw light on their general opinions, mindset, maturity and fitness to govern.

That is a great question. Up here in Canada it's not an issue at all. I don't know the Prime Minister's religion, I don't know the religion of ourember of parliament, I don't know nor do I care about the religion of any of Canada's politicians!

This is one of the things that inherently bugs me. I mean, all religions are true, if you believe strongly enough. Yet it just opens a door for a feeding frenzy of discrimination if someone does not have the same beliefs as another person. And obviously even those within the same religion use it as fodder as well. So and so is not as true of a follower as I am. In the end, it shouldn't matter. I don't care who you worship. The religion you choose to follow, that's your business. Any religion or none at all, really that is your life. If you want to worship a giant potato, then have fun. The most religious man out there could be the worst possible person to run the country. A person with no religious values at all or weaker ones could be a great leader. It doesn't matter. Religion has become too much about ripping down the beliefs of other people then celebrating your own beliefs and that really should not get involved in politics. Politics is a dirty enough business without religion being thrown into the ring.

I think candidates feel the need to disclose their religion partially because America is still a majority Christian nation. Most feel more comfortable with a person of faith. I am surprised at some of the reactions to Romney being a Mormon but I think that just comes from the more extreme people.

moonlitmagikchild People want to know...I care. I am not so interested in which religion as I am about the recognition thwere is a higher force. Of course I also care about issues and vision for the future. If the only plus was he/she was religious it would not cause me to vote for them.

For those who don't care about a candidates religion then they can just ignore it. Alternatively, some do care and believe that the candidates religion is very important. A person's religion (or lack thereof) forms their character and gives them a difference in worldview. During the elections of 1960, many people worried about nominating the US' first Catholic candidate. Their fear lay in the fact that devout Catholics see the Pope as their authority. As the president of America and the ruler of the free world, a President who considers himself a Catholic might feel the need to obey everything the Pope tells him to do, thus placing America and it's citizens in the control of a man who is not a citizen of our country. During certain periods in the world's history, treacherous popes have brought countries to war in their own attempt to push their agenda. While I am not saying this is a concern now, this idea has remained through the ages and continues to be an issue to many today.

While there are a lot of people who don't care what religion a candidate is, there are a lot more who probably do. An example: If you think about how many Catholics there are, then to the Catholic candidates thinking, every one of them is a potential vote because they come from common thought and religious backgrounds. Not saying that's right, but I've actually know people who voted that way because of the candidates religious background. Personally, I vote for the person who I feel will do the best job based on his past service. Religion does not play into my view. There is supposed to be a 'separation of church and state', yet many base their views on the religious aspect of what they feel that candidate will bring to his service. Think too of the battle about something like abortion...religious views play heavily into that, probably more than any other argument for or against. I'm protestant, and I've voted for Catholics before. I think candidates should stand on their merit, and would not simply vote for somebody because we were of the same religion.

I dont care about religion or race or gender for a president. I want them to have good values and want to help fix our country. I know that will be hard to find though. But I think if a candidate said he was Buddhist or something and had a great plan for the u.s. he wouldnt get voted in cuz he's not a Christian or of God. I don't think this is fair but maybe most of the u.s. are ignorant of other beliefs so they don't see how religion wouldn't affect anything. It's not like the president would require everyone everyone to convert.

In my eyes the whole campagne in the USA about getting the new president is doing everything to buy "souls" or voices. We don't have such kind campagnes in our country. I also have the strong idea it's not important if the new president is intelligent or has an solution to the problems. The only thing that is counting is the amount of money he is able to invest in that campaign. The people vote because of that not because of strong ideas or because they know the new president will make a big difference in a short time. I don't like these kinds of shows, it's cheap and the winner is the one with the big wallet, not the one with the best ideas. I assume religion, the hysteric behaviour about religion is typicall American too. No one over here would buy that cheap kind of talking. Nobody is interested in that. Religion is a private thing with which you don't bother other people. Those church shows they have on the USA television, those big mass of people praying or the soldiers all praying before the leave to interfere somewhere, I think it's typicall for the USA. It would never work over here. So I think those candidates are using also religion as an election item since it's important to them or they lie and say it is because they think that is what the people like to hear. Personally I think religion should not be a part of the election or interfere in politics. It should not have a voice at all. This is what some people complain about if it comes to muslims but in my eyes this type of christians are doing exactly the same. No room for those who don't believe.