Should religion matter when selecting a presidential candiate?

It should not, however it does. Look at the entire history of Euope, it is plagued with wars over religion. I believe that people should vote for a candidate that will actually keep the "church and state" seperate. On the other hand, the moral values of people are often based on religion (or lack thereof), and until we start electing unbiased robots as Presidents, religion is always going to matter when selecting a presidential candidate

ABSOLUTELY!!! The religion a man belongs has a creed, a written set of believes which he has subscribed to. If he is a man of integrity, he follows those creeds; or he explains in how he differs.

I would rather vote for a man with NO religion, than a religion that I consider racist, revolutionary, hateful, and in the interest of another nation or continent rather than the USA.

Is a man free to belong to any religion, OF COURSE, my ancestors have fought for that right since before this was a country. A candidate may be openly racist, as well, and still be a candidate, but I won't be voting for him.

Hillary NOW, or McCain in November, we KNOW he's a loyal and patriotic American.

No-bama......ever

******************GOD BLESS AMERICA *******************

everything matters when choosing a president! where you been the last 200 years?

even out of obamas mouth, "I know my life will be an open book while running for office, thats the way america works and thats fine with me"

he said that! and yes, everything is open bid.

if not, why impeach clinton for getting a bj? whats wrong with a little sex compared to engrossing ones self in 20 years of Black Liberation theology created by James Cones in the early 60's?

my how double standards sure seem to play a large role when its about obama.

Kerry was criticized about his religion and forced out because of it!

It does to me. I believe that being religious is important not only being a president but being an everyday person. I find personally people who have religion are more at peace with themselves and tend to be morally straight. Not to say that non religious people don't have morals. I can identify myself with a Christian because I know what they believe. I however cannot identify myself with an atheist because I don't know why they believe the way they do.

No, because the President is not allowed to promote a particular religion according to the Constitution. We have religious freedom in this country, and although people have a right to their personal beliefs, they do not have a right to use the Government as a weapon to force those views on other free thinking Americans. Abortion and gay marriage are more like moral issues than religious ones. When you don't have separation of church and state, you end up in a situation like Iraq, where people are always trying to force other people into their own religion.

so, answer to your question - NO it should not matter

No, religion shouldn't matter. There are evil people out there, who are religious and not religious. The inverse is also true. There are perfectly good and moral people out there, both religious and non-religious. In the end, it isn't religion that makes a person be nice and caring and ethical, but it's their own personal attributes and inherent properties.

When I am voting and choosing the right Presidential candidate, yes, I do look very closely at their religion. I would be very disappointed if I didn't.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! you dont want someone that doesnt have descent standards and a good head on their shoulders. For example...if you got a muslim in office and the muslim leader called Jihad then you would be in DEEP TROUBLE! I have nothing agaist muslims (i was just using that for an example)

This is a nation founded on Christianity. Yes it is important to have a president with Christian beliefs. And it's important that they have a minister who doesn't G-damn people.

It's not my place to judge what should matter to someone else. Each person has the individual right to decide what matters.