Increasing Number of Americans Want Religion in Politics
The number of people who say churches and other houses of worship should express their views on social and political issues is up six percentage points since the 2010 midterm elections, from 43 percent to 49 percent. Similarly, those who think there has been "too little" expression of faith from political leaders is up from 37 percent to 41 percent.
The poll could be a result of the waning influence of religion. Seventy-two percent of the public believe that religion is losing influence in American life, something many see as detrimental to society.
Furthermore, a growing number of Americans (32 percent) think that churches should endorse candidates for political office, though most continue to oppose such direct involvement by churches in electoral politics....