Australia’s new Prime Minister is not religious and does not pretend to be:

“I’m not a religious person,” [Julia] Gillard told ABC radio.

“I was brought up in the Baptist Church but during my adult life I’ve, you know, found a different path. I’m of course a great respecter of religious beliefs, but they’re not my beliefs.”

“I am not going to pretend a faith I don’t feel. And for people of faith the greatest compliment I could pay to them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine. I think it’s not the right thing.”

With very few exceptions, do you think any American politician would make such a statement? Certainly no candidate seeking national office would do so and expect to win. Of course, most everyone realizes that a good number of our political leaders are simply faking their beliefs for the sake of electoral gain. From a religious perspective, this deception is far worse than Prime Minister Gillard’s honesty, but as most Americans won’t elect a nonreligious person, this is what politicians will continue to do.

Via OTB