Today Theos has published research revealing that Barack Obama would win the US Presidential election by a landslide of historic proportions if people in Britain made up the electorate.
The research also reveals that only 12% of people agree with the statement that their view of Christianity has been damaged by the controversial presidency of George W. Bush, especially interesting, perhaps, given the high profile of the president’s religious faith.
Of particular interest, however, is the statistic that one in five people would not vote for a Muslim or an atheist.
Unlike the
It might be tempting to think that people's unwillingness to vote for a Muslim, an atheist or a Christian (7%) simply reflects an irrational prejudice: 'I don't want that kind of person running our country'. However, such reluctance could also highlight a more sophisticated concern, namely that issues of faith, whether religious or atheistic, cannot easily be distinguished from a candidate's other qualities.
The reality is that a candidate's fundamental values shape their political outlook and character. It simply isn't possible to separate a worldview from a political agenda. In short, the Islam, atheism or Christianity of a political leader cannot (and, philosophically, should not) be compartmentalised or considered un-important to the values and approach of the leader in question. Worldviews are not only about the way we see the world and interpret reality; they are also about the way we live in it and conduct policy.
Is this right? Do a politician's religious (or other fundamental) views matter?
On the whole, the British public seem to think not. But you may disagree.
Paul Woolley is Director of Theos.
