Why the US Presidency Demands Theological Universalism

The American presidency contains a number of puzzles concerning religion. The country is ever more diverse and secular, but many citizens still say they want the president to be a person of faith. Yet aside from any personal religious commitments, the president is a functionary in the country's robust civil religion, the set of national and official commemorations, rhetoric, and events that symbolize the nation. As opposed to parliamentary systems in which the head of government is elected locally and elevated by a party or coalition, the American president is head of state, head of government, and the leader of his or her political party -- one of only two parties that must appeal as broadly as possible across religious lines.