The BBC is airing a documentary retrospective on Tony Blair's term as prime minister of the UK. Next week's installment includes a segment about his religious faith, and bits of it are circulating in the press. The contrast it sets up between British and American public life is remarkable.

Blair apparently kept a lid on his deep religious faith because of concern that "You talk about it [religion] in our political system and frankly people do think you're a nutter." Nutter, if you couldn't guess, is British for lunatic.

Compare this with American politics, in which a candidate thinks it advantageous to literally spell out his religion in campaign ads:

And aside from this ad, polling shows that religiosity is effectively a necessity for candidates.

Interesting perspectives on this in the London Telegraph and The New York Times.

To those I'd add that the religious cynicism Blair sensed in British public life is the fruit of a state-established religion.