I've reported before on what various Democratic candidates for president have had to say about the separation of church and state, but we don't see them saying much about religion generally and atheism in particular. At least, not until recently with John Kerry.

Chris Suellentrop writes for Slate:

On the subject of religion, he believes that presidents should "recognize the diversity of faiths and even of agnosticism and atheism," and he takes the politically risky stance of admitting to a "questioning, agnostic stage" after his experience in Vietnam.

It's not much, but it's more than most candidates have said. It's worth noting that he doesn't categorize atheism or agnosticism as being one of those "faiths." It would be natural to do so, even if incorrect, and if he had it wouldn't have been very remarkable. In not doing it, however, he shows that he may understand them better than most people.

It's curious that Suellentrop considers the acknowledgment of a "questioning, agnostic stage" to be "politically risky." I don't think that even most conservative evangelical Christians will condemn a person for going through a stage of questioning - especially when it occurs in the context of a war. If Kerry were currently an agnostic and/or atheist, that would be "politically risky" to admit - but an agnostic stage in the past doesn't seem the same.

Read More:

• Democratic Candidates on Church & State
• Secularism 101
• Separation of Church and State 101
• Atheism 101