One of America's leading Christian thinkers says Hillary Clinton is the "more competent" candidate for President, while suggesting the Democratic nominee is, "more in line with the Christian faith than is Donald Trump".

Theologian Miroslav Volf is a professor at Yale Divinity School and has served as an advisor to the White House Office of Faith Based Partnerships.

In an interview about his new book, Public Faith in Action: How to Think Carefully, Engage Wisely, and Vote with Integrity, Volf said, "The best case to be made for Hillary Clinton is that on balance she better represents the convictions and character that should concern Christian citizens. No candidate is perfect."

He went on to castigate Donald Trump saying, "Mr Trump is an exceedingly poor candidate whose public life has not demonstrated a single one of the moral virtues that are important for a political leader to have. Braggadocio is not the same thing as courage."

In a further attack on Trump, Volf said, "His policy proposals, such as they are, range from half-baked to obviously incompatible with deep Christian convictions, such as the importance of welcoming the needy stranger, care for the non-human creation, and pursuing peace."

His support for Clinton is not absolute, though. "There are certainly areas where Secretary Clinton's policies and record might give Christians pause," he said.