(Vanity) Can An Atheist Be a Genuine Conservative?

Comtedemaistre

[ComtedeMaistre]

Most conservatives are religious. But there is a small minority of non-religious individuals, who were attracted to the conservative movement because they were influenced by secular movements such as Ayn Rand's objectivism.

Should atheists be welcomed into the conservative movement? Do atheists make good conservatives?

[ComtedeMaistre]

It has been said that some of the writers in the National Review during the 1960s were ex-Marxists who opposed communism, but retained an atheistic world view. Names such as James Burnham and Frank Meyer come to mind.

[Junior]

You could as well say, "Should Christians be welcomed into the conservative movement?"

The religious are not arbiters of who may, or may not be conservative.

[mlc9852]

I don't believe in atheists.

[TASMANIANRED]

btt

[Michael Goldsberry]

Of course they can.

[peyton randolph]

Anyone who doesn't believe in the FSM will burn in a boiling lake of alfredo sauce.

[Jemian]

Yes.

But he doesn't know why.

[JNL]

LOL it's such a silly question. Religion does not equal Conservatism.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Yup.

MineralMan comes to mind.

[mlc9852]

Still, it seems most religious people are conservatives and most non-religious people are liberals. Wonder why?

[Wormwood]

Should atheists be welcomed into the conservative movement? Do atheists make good conservatives?

Good idea—let's split the movement!

What an ignorant premise.

[snarks_when_bored]

Leo Strauss, perhaps the most influential conservative thinker of recent decades, was an atheist.

[R. Scott]

It does to the Left.

[Wormwood]

Still, it seems most religious people are conservatives and most non-religious people are liberals. Wonder why?

Still, it seems most of the Taliban was religious. Wonder why?

[peyton randolph]

Still, it seems most religious people are conservatives and most non-religious people are liberals.

False perception because of those with whom you associate. Like the Hollyweird crowd who can't imagine why John Kerry didn't win because none of their friends voted for Bush.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Do atheists make good conservatives?

Yes. Go read David Hume.

[gridlock]

Should atheists be welcomed into the conservative movement?

YES

Do atheists make good conservatives?

STUPID QUESTION. There are, no doubt, atheists who are good conservatives. However, there is nothing about atheism that makes them good conservatives.

Would you like to re-phrase?

I leave open the possiblility that you are just trying to stir up trouble. You'll have to try harder than that.

[BunnySlippers]

Somehow Christians think they own Conservatism. It's something I've only encountered on this site. I find it odd in the extreme.

It's a silly premise.

[spikeytx86]

yes they do. Conservatism is now a days a pretty broad title. I know a lot of "Social Conservatives" who when you take there moral stanches away, support most liberal positions and want a much larger activist government.

[rhombus]

My definition of a Conservative is someone who wants to "conserve" the original intent of the Constitution. Part of that Constitituion contains a Bill of Rights which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...". In my interpretation, that is pretty much the extent of what religion has to do with being Conservative.