What do we want from a president? Actually voters seem to want everything but will have to settle for something far less. Evangelical Christians would like a president who has faith and is religious in a way they support. Fortunately, Professor Thomas Kidd has put together five qualities of what he calls “the perfect religious president.”

First, he says that the perfect religious president should have an active faith that is detached from his or her role as a candidate and president. He uses two examples: Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Though Carter is not his favorite president, he still embodied some of the qualities Thomas Kidd was attempting to explain. Both presidents have an active faith that lasted long after their campaigns for president.

Second, the perfect religious president may talk more or less about his or her own faith, but what they do say should be well thought out and pertinent. Thomas Kidd says Ronald Reagan’s comments about faith were often pitch-perfect.

Third, the perfect religious president is judicious in the faith leaders he or she associates with. Frankly I think this requirement is tricky. Most candidates need to accept as much money, support, and advice as they can get. Frankly, if I were a candidate, I would probably welcome many more people to participate in my campaign than I would agree with theologically or even politically.

Fourth, the perfect religious president speaks compellingly about the public issues that matter most to people of faith. Carly Fiorina’s criticism of Planned Parenthood and Marco Rubio’s defense of life are just a few of many examples we could cite.

Fifth, the perfect religious president need not be all that religious if he or she will be honest and straightforward. I think we would all prefer someone who is honest about what he or she believes. And we are wary of someone of suddenly “gets religion” right before voting takes place.

How does your candidate stack up? Read his article and use it to evaluate your candidate.