Why The Disproportionate Religious Make-Up of Congress?

In a follow-up to a Pew Forum report earlier this month on the religious composition of members of the 112th Congress (see prior posting), yesterday's Dallas Morning News published an interesting set of responses from nine members of the clergy on why some faith groups have a greater presence in Congress than in the overall U.S. population.  In particular, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Jews and Catholics all have greater percentages in Congress than in the population as a whole. Explanations ranged from differences in theologies and traditions, to differences in education and affluence among different religious groups, to observing that some members of Congress adopt a religious affiliation label for convenience with very nominal adherence to the faith.