Nope. Not "wearing religion on his sleeve" (which for some reason is a bad thing):
Religion and Politics
Q. Is religion a guide for you?
The President. Yes, religion is a guide for me. To think that anyone could carry out the awesome responsibilities of this office without asking for God's help through prayer strikes me as absurd.
Q. Are politics and religion related?
The President. I believe that politics and religion are related, because I do not believe you can function in politics without some sense of morality. It is through our religious beliefs that our moral tradition in the West is descended. While a legislator or a President may not bring to his politics the specific tenets of his particular faith, each of us brings a code of morals to bear on our judgments.
There is much talk in my country now of religion interfering with politics. Actually, it is the other way around. Politics -- legalization of abortion; attempts to fund abortion with taxpayers' money; prohibition of voluntary prayer in public schools; weakening of laws against pornography; failure to enforce civil rights legislation on behalf of helpless, severely ill infants -- has moved across the barrier between church and state and has invaded the arena of religious beliefs.
Most of Western civilization is based on principles derived from the Judeo-Christian ethic. The wall of separation between church and state in America was erected by our forefathers to protect religion from the state, not the other way around.
I think what's important is HOW Reagan went about expressing his religious beliefs. He did not speak of the fires of Hell, or even Heaven for that matter. He spoke of the importance God has over our lives and how God should guide us in all things. He spoke of how past empires fell after turning their backs on God.
This is a wee bit different from "Vote for me! I'm a strong Christian!" (here's an example of that type of politician: http://tinyurl.com/yvvmz)
While a legislator or a President may not bring to his politics the specific tenets of his particular faith, each of us brings a code of morals to bear on our judgments.
President Reagan expressed his faith publicly in a spiritual and non-sectarian manner. It was inclusive rather than exclusive.