Warning, the following post is political and preachy... There is a very thought-provoking post over on Lincoln Studies dealing with America's Political Religion. The piece that is quoted was taken from a recent Washington Post editorial in which a writer states that she wants to ‘hear less about each candidate’s religious beliefs.’ My response to the post presented a POV that many secular types just don’t understand:

That is an interesting post to say the least. However, I would venture to guess that those voters, who don't consider a candidate's religious preference important, probably aren't regular church going people themselves (which is certainly their choice). To devout believers - those of us who willingly go to church more than once a week, pray on a daily basis (whether in crisis or not), and believe that every word in the bible to be true - we abide by a doctrine where every aspect of our lives are to be ultimately governed by our faith. Our theology dictates what we do (or don’t do), where we go (or don’t go), and whom we will vote for (or won’t vote for). Choosing the next president is a monumental choice. However, the election (to us) is just another lifetime decision that must be guided and influenced by our religious beliefs and convictions. Therefore, it is probably very easy for people who don’t practice organized religion to make the statement that ‘religion doesn’t matter’ to them at the polls, but to the rest of us in the evangelical community, it makes absolutely no sense.

Please let me add that I don’t feel that everyone has to think the way I do, but to propose that a candidate’s faith shouldn’t be a major discussion point in a presidential campaign as it quote: ‘doesn’t matter’ alienates the portion of the voting population who do care about this subject. People vote on what is important to them. I’m not an ‘animal-lover,’ so I could care less about a candidate’s feelings on fur. That doesn’t mean I believe that a politician's stance on animal rights shouldn’t be up for consideration by those voters who do care.

The bottom line is that different things matter to different people and we should all be able to put up with each other's concerns and considerations when collectively electing the next leader of our country.