The positive role religion can play in politics

In 2006, former U.S. Senator John Danforth called out the Religious Right for conflating faith and politics. He said the group's actions were ruining the GOP — Danforth's own party — in his book, "Faith and Politics."

Now Danforth is back with a new book, "The Relevance of Religion," in which he revisits the topic. Most people, he writes, "believe that their faith relates to all of life: to their community, to their world and to their politics."

Indeed, though the separation of church and state is a founding tenet of the U.S. government, voters still show a preference for religious candidates. A Pew Research study from 2014 showed that half of Americans would be less likely to vote for an atheist candidate.

Danforth's new book argues that religion does have a place in politics, but in a different manner than we've seen in recent years. What's missing in the modern political world, Danforth writes, is "the commitment to look beyond the self and serve the public good" — something encouraged by religion.

Danforth joined MPR News' Kerri Miller to discuss his book, and how he believes religion could help bridge the partisan divide.

To hear the full interview with former senator John Danforth about the role of religion in politics, use the audio player above.