What Is Rand Paul's Religion?

Rand Paul, a Republican and tea party favorite, is running for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky against Democrat and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway. As part of a Politics Daily series providing background about the major candidates in 2010, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about his life.

What is Rand Paul's religion?

Paul is a Presbyterian.

Where does Rand Paul worship?

Paul worships at the Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, Ky., where he's been a member since 1993.

Was Rand Paul born Presbyterian, or did he convert?

Paul is a convert. He and his four siblings were all baptized in the Episcopal Church, but Paul has said that he became a Christian as a teenager and he converted when he moved with his wife to Bowling Green, Ky., in 1993 and started attending the Presbyterian Church, where his wife is a deacon.

What has Rand Paul said about the Presbyterian Church?

Paul has spoken of the Presbyterian Church and Christianity on the whole as a safeguard for morality, saying that Christianity is the basis of American society and values, and that "it helps a society to have that religious underpinning. ... I think it helps to have a people who believe in law and order and who have a moral compass or a moral basis for their day-to-day life." He has also said, "I personally think you could probably have prayer in public school."

What is Rand Paul's position on the mosque planned near the World Trade Center in Manhattan?

Paul calls it a local matter to be decided by the people of New York, but goes on to say, "I do not support a mosque being built two blocks from ground zero."

Has religion been an issue in Rand Paul's campaign?

Yes. Because of some questionable associations that Paul kept in college in the early 1980s, Jack Conway has attacked the authenticity of Paul's Christianity. Paul, in turn, has insisted that he's a pro-life Christian and has been an active member of his church for 17 years, called Conway's attack ad "shameless," and in turn accused Conway of "bearing false witness against his fellow man."

Latest Rand Paul News and Information

SEE ALSO: How Old Is Rand Paul?
Is Rand Paul Married?

Read Rand Paul's full bio on his website.