within the wake of the 2004 election, pundits have been stunned at go out polling that confirmed that 22% of electorate idea 'moral values' was once crucial factor at stake. humans on either side of the political divide believed this used to be the main to victory for George W. Bush, who professes a deep and abiding religion in God. whereas a few fervent Bush supporters see him as a guy selected through God for the White condo, competitors see his overt dedication to Christianity as a perilous and extraordinary bridging of the space among church and state.

In truth, Gary Scott Smith indicates, none of this can be new. faith has been a big a part of the presidency considering George Washington's first inaugural deal with. regardless of the mounting curiosity within the function of faith in American public lifestyles, we really recognize remarkably little in regards to the religion of our presidents. was once Thomas Jefferson an atheist, as his political competitors charged? What function did Lincoln's spiritual perspectives play in his dealing with of slavery and the Civil conflict? How did born-again Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter lose the aid of many evangelicals? used to be George W. Bush, as his critics frequently claimed, a captive of the non secular correct? during this interesting e-book, Smith solutions those questions and plenty of extra. he is taking a sweeping examine the position faith has performed in presidential politics and rules. Drawing on wide archival examine, Smith paints compelling graphics of the non secular lives and presidencies of 11 leader executives for whom faith used to be relatively vital. religion and the Presidency meticulously examines what each one of its matters believed and the way these ideals formed their presidencies and, in flip, the process our history.