(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Some Americans think faith can have a positive influence in public service, according to a poll by Public Agenda. 45 per cent of respondents believe religion could probably improve a politician's laws and policy decisions.

Adults in the United States would not want a politician to act solely on the basis of belief. 75 per cent of respondents think elected officials who are deeply religious must sometimes make compromises and set their convictions aside to get results.

Many Americans are also unconvinced by public servants who talk about spirituality in public. 70 per cent of respondents believe politicians sometimes discuss religion through the course of a campaign to say what they think people want to hear.

Polling Data

If many more of our elected officials were deeply religious, do you think that the laws and policy decisions they make would probably be better, would probably be worse, or would be neither better nor worse?

How close does this statement come to your own view: Even elected officials who are deeply religious sometimes have to make compromises and set their convictions aside to get results while in government—is this very close, somewhat close, not too close, or not close at all to your own view?

How close does this statement come to your own view: When politicians talk about their religious faith during elections, they are just saying what they think people want to hear—is this very close, somewhat close, not too close, or not close at all to your own view?

Poll highlights: Views on how elected officials who are deeply religious vote on issues such as the death penalty, poverty and welfare, abortion, gay rights and same-sex marriage; the influence of religion in a political campaign; the influence of religious leaders on political issues.

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