---
"title": "Religion and the Presidency"
"description": "On Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has assembled a variety of resources on religion and the presidency, including reports, event transcripts, polling data and a graphic featuring the religious affiliations of U.S. presidents […]"
"date": "2009-01-15"
"authors":
-
"name": "Benjamin Wormald"
"job_title": "Senior Engineer"
"link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/benjamin-wormald/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2009/01/15/publicationpage-aspxid1127/"
"categories":
- "Barack Obama"
- "Leaders"
- "Religion"
---
# Religion and the Presidency
On Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has assembled a variety of resources on religion and the presidency, including reports, event transcripts, polling data and a graphic featuring the religious affiliations of U.S. presidents past and present.
Graphic [The Religious Affiliations of U.S. Presidents](/docs/?DocID=386) Jan. 15, 2009 Nearly half the nation’s presidents have been affiliated with the Episcopal or Presbyterian churches. John F. Kennedy remains the only Catholic to have held the nation’s highest office.
Event [Religion and Race: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective](/events/?EventID=210) Dec. 8, 2008 As part of his Pew Forum discussion on religion and race in America, Eddie S. Glaude of Princeton University spoke about the challenges President-elect Obama might face when he takes office.
Profile [Barack Obama](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=4) Nov. 6, 2008 The Pew Forum’s profile of President-elect Obama includes an in-depth religious biography, Obama’s positions on values-laden issues and more.
Profile [Joe Biden](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=9) Nov. 6, 2008 The Pew Forum’s profile of Vice President-elect Joe Biden includes a religious biography, Biden’s positions on values-laden issues and more.
Q&A [John DiIulio Previews How Faith-Based Initiatives Would Change if Barack Obama Is Elected President](/events/?EventID=202) Sept. 23, 2008 To discuss how an Obama administration might approach faith-based and community initiatives, the Pew Forum posed a series of questions to John J. DiIulio Jr., who has worked extensively on this issue.
Survey [More Americans Question Religion’s Role in Politics](/docs/?DocID=334) Aug. 21, 2008 A summer 2008 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that an overwhelming majority of the public continues to say that it is important that a president have strong religious beliefs.
Q&A [The Purpose-Driven Campaign: The Candidates’ Forum With Rick Warren](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2008/08/14/the-purpose-driven-campaign-the-candidates-forum-with-rick-warren/) Aug. 14, 2008 John McCain and Barack Obama made their first joint appearance of the 2008 general election at a forum moderated by Pastor Rick Warren, who will be delivering President-elect Obama’s inaugural invocation. Pew Forum Senior Fellow John Green answered questions about what the candidates stood to gain from speaking with Warren and the challenges Warren faces as he attempts to broaden evangelicals’ political agenda.
Event [Religion, Rhetoric and the Presidency: A Conversation with Michael Gerson](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2004/12/06/religion-rhetoric-and-the-presidency-a-conversation-with-michael-gerson/) Dec. 6, 2004 Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for outgoing President George W. Bush, spoke at a Pew Forum event about the role of religious rhetoric in presidential speeches.
More Resources
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**Pew Research Center**
Jan. 5, 2009 [States of the Union Before and After Bush](http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1069/states-of-the-union-before-and-after-bush) Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
Dec. 30, 2008 [From BarackObama.com to Change.gov](http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1068/post-election-voter-engagement) Pew Internet & American Life Project
Dec. 18, 2008 [Bush and Public Opinion](http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1063/bush-and-public-opinion) Pew Research Center for the People & the Press |  |  |  | 
**News**
Jan. 12, 2009 [Gay bishop will open inaugural weekend](/news/display.php?NewsID=17316) Politico
Jan. 10, 2009 [Obama Names Minister to Lead Prayer Service](/news/display.php?NewsID=17315) The New York Time
Jan. 8, 2009 [Presidential church choice sends political, spiritual messages](/news/display.php?NewsID=17301) Religion News Service |  |  |  | 
**Blogs**
Jan. 12, 2009 [Inaugural Prayers Through History — The Ultimate Archive](http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2009/01/inaugural-invocations-and-pray.html) Steven Waldman
Jan. 12, 2009 [So Help Me God](http://www.spiritual-politics.org/2009/01/post_21.html) Spiritual Politics
Jan. 12, 2009 [This is our moment, this is our time](http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/immanent_frame/2009/01/12/this-is-our-moment-this-is-our-time/) The Immanent Frame
Jan. 9, 2009 [Obama Asks Court to Include ‘So help me God’ at Inauguration](http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2009/01/obama_asks_cour.html) *Christianity Today* |
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