POSITION OF PRESIDENT AND RELIGION WITHIN POLITICAL SYSTEM OF USA

Abstract

There were 43 presidents in the history of USA and the analysis of their religious affiliation suggests that a membership in a particular religious denomination has tremendous influence on the American political life. Roman Catholics, for example, comprise a relatively largest denominational community in the US yet despite their 28% share of the religious affiliation only one president ever emerged from that community - John F. Kennedy (1961-1963). By contrast, the three Protestant denominations - Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Unitarians – have 22 of the American presidents yet they comprise 4% of American religious affiliation. This discrepancy itself is sufficient to suggest that a powerful connection exists between religion and politics in the United States.