Cameron reveals Christian faith

David Cameron on Friday revealed the importance of religion in his life, saying the teachings of Jesus were a "good guide".

In an interview with London's Evening Standard newspaper, the Conservative Party leader said, "I don't feel I have a direct line" to God but Christian doctrine had "good and thoughtful ideas to bring to life."

"If you are asking, do I drop to my knees and pray for guidance, no. But do I have faith and is it important, yes. My own faith is there, it's not always the rock that perhaps it should be," Cameron said.

It is rare for senior politicians in Britain, a Christian but largely secular country, to discuss their religious fervour.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's father was a Church of Scotland minister, but he typically speaks of the "moral compass" his upbringing gave him, not of his faith.

Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, was known to be a devout Christian but kept his beliefs private -- his press secretary once told journalists that "we don't do God". An Anglican, he converted to Catholicism within months of quitting office.

Cameron, whose party is comfortably ahead of Brown's Labour Party in opinion polls ahead of a general election due by June, said he waited until he was 18 years old to be confirmed into the Church of England.

He was a "good, sceptical, questioning Christian" when younger and wanted to make sure it was what he really believed.

"I liked to think it through, thinking, am I really sure about this? But I don't feel I have a direct line" (to God), Cameron said.

He added: "I think that it's perfectly possible to live a good life without having faith, by which I mean a positive and altruistic life.

"But I think the teachings of Jesus just as the teachings of other religions are a good guide to help us through.

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you; don't walk on by. These are good and thoughtful ideas to bring to life."