Americans are often taught to avoid discussions about religion and politics, especially at the dinner table. But polite conversation isn't commonplace on the campaign trail. From Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton, presidential candidates talk about their faith as they appeal to voters across the country.
Even as the nation becomes less religious -- fewer Americans pray or attend religious services on a regular basis than ever before -- religious beliefs still serve as a way for Americans to judge the character of presidential candidates.
But how much do voters consider a politician's religious beliefs when casting their ballot? Why does it still matter that a candidate hold a belief in a higher power? In 2016, should it matter?
During the latest episode of “Political Party with Keli Goff,” the Daily Beast columnist and show host invited a panel of theologians and political experts to The Greene Space to discuss the importance of religion in election politics. Abyssinian Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, NETWORK executive director Sister Simone Campbell, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield, Princeton University chaplain Imam Sohaib Sultan and former special assistant to President George W. Bush Ron Christie debated how politicians use religion to influence and motivate voters and whether faith should be a factor when choosing the next president.
Watch the full video of the live conversation, recorded with a live audience in The Greene Space, WNYC’s street-level broadcast studio in Soho, on March 29: