It is not at all that religion is private—an oxymoron, by the way—but that its language is utterly appropriate only within the prayer and worship, belief and community of its own tradition. Or, delicately, carefully, and respectfully within religious situations of intentional ecumenical conversation.

Religious people and candidates will be profoundly influenced by their faith—if, again, it is conscious faith and not just unconscious habit—in everything that pertains to their lives including, of course, the deep bases of their political vision. If they are not so influenced, they are simply on religious cruise-control.

In order, however, to enter the public square and argue for their political vision in that open venue, they must translate their traditional religious language into communal public discourse. For example, if they were Christian and asking “WWJD?,” their religious reading could be ”What Would Jesus Do?” but their political translation could be “What Would Justice Demand?” And, if they actually know their Christian tradition, they can be bilingual like that with complete and absolute integrity. And so, of course, for any individuals or candidates who come with religious faith and personal integrity to speak in and to the public square.

Finally, and speaking of integrity, my advice is this. If you get even the faintest scent that candidates--especially presidential candidates--are using religion to get your vote, drop them fast, drop them hard, drop them cold.