[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[A Jovial Cad]

Interesting questions you infrequently pose...

[CharacterCounts]

A more appropriate question might be: can a fundamentalist Christian be a true conservative.

As I have observed countless times here on FR, often your religious convictions are at odds with true conservative values.

[grjr21]

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

If you were to answer no to that question. Then would you be willing to accept the Taliban ? After all they are conservative.

[RadioAstronomer]

Should atheists be welcomed into the conservative movement?

At what point did the requirement for having a religious believe enter into the equation of whether you are conservative or not?

Do atheists make good conservatives?

Yes.

[kidd]

Conservatives adhere to the Constitution.

Whether or not they adhere to the Word of God is the choice that God has allowed them to make.

Fortunately, there is very little conflict between the two, however in the case of a conflict I will always put God before the Constitution. In that regard atheists may make better conservatives.

On the other hand, Christians and Jews know that their rights come from God and that the Constitution doesn't grant rights, but rather limits the power of the governemnt. Atheist conservatives know that the Constitution limits the powers of government, but the source of their rights is a little more of an obscure subject. In that regard Christians make better conservatives.

Conclusion: Atheists are a slightly different type of conservative, but they are neither better nor worse conservatives that Christians or Jews.

[Physicist]

Many on FR will tell you that no true conservative can be an atheist. And no true Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge.

[jmaroneps37]

Yes! Absolutely. My good friend and dentist Jeff comes to mind. You can't get more pro life than Jeff. Nor can you find a more conservative thinker.

[rapture-me]

I'm a conservative because of my Christianity. The founding Fathers were conservative because of their Christianity. My Christianity rejects the murder of unborn Children, as I'm sure our Founding Fathers did. Other people may have their own reason for conservatism. The two issues are related but separate. If the Liberals were to reject their pro-abortion message, I would consider their views but probably remain a Conservative.