In polite company, so the saying goes, refrain from speaking about religion and politics.  The two subjects tend to roil deep ideological divides between friends and peers where none were apparent.  In the interest of political conversation, however, perhaps discussing the two topics is a worthier pursuit than silence, especially when contemplating a candidate's character. 

Does the role of religion in a politician's private life transmute into a dangerous public weapon used against his or her opponents? Or does the candidate's religion materialize into a useful tool with which to frame issues of morality, ethics, values, and judgment? 

Alternately, may a modern politician publicly avoid discussing his or her religion without engendering the mistrust of voters? 

Enter Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California's dual conversations on CNN last Saturday with both presumptive presidential nominees.

His premise at the outset of the forum is that "faith is a worldview."  I think by "faith" Pastor Warren means "Christian faith" and by "worldview" he may mean something closer to an all encompassing mission.  The self-proclaimed "values-voters" (a moniker I only use as shorthand reference, wishing it were something else) often is a one-issue voter.  Want to guess what that one issue tends to be?  The big issue probably does not need to be spelled out, but it has to do with sexuality, as do so many other socially conservative issues. 

So, does a modern presidential candidate hurt his chances of election by emphasizing a worldview that does not include his or her "faith," and more specifically, his or her Christian faith? 

Can there be an agnostic or atheist, or Jewish, president of the future United States?  Or have voters created the need for this type of forum because Christianity is the perennial elephant in the room, so to speak? 

I'd love to qualify my personal beliefs, values, ethics and spirituality and talk about why it matters to consciously line them up with my political beliefs.  I'd love to write about Jesus setting an example of what it looks like to achieve social justice.  Or about admiring clergy leaders, like Rick Warren, who link the soul and the body by reaching out to neighbors in need of grace. 

But without discussing Christianity's divisive role in American politics, it will be impossible to engage both sides in a proactive discussion. The dominant religion in America kindles its believers' self-proclaimed martyr's fires, rallies support for its political issues by using words like "faith" as code for sinner and saint, and is more likely to burn bridges with opposing points of view than foster sustained dialogue.

Do I think Pastor Warren's question-and-answer sessions helped or hurt either senator's election chances?  I'm not sure it did either. 

Now, tell me what you think the impact of the candidate's faith-based disclosures might have on your vote.