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To: ComtedeMaistre
I haven't read the replies as I wish to give my opinion on your question raw.

The answer is yes and even a moderate yes from many leading traditional conservatives.

In the Politics of Prudence, the last book of essays published by Russell Kirk, where he outlines ten conservative principles, he lists the first conservative Principle as "Belief in an Enduring Moral Order", one for man and one for the state. This is a direct rewording of his often stated form of using Transcendant Moral Order and appears to be a clear acknowledgement that despite the long debate with the so-called "fusionists" in the end the positive recognition is made that those outside the circle of belief can hold morals in a manner consistant with conservatism and seperate from the rationalists of the left.

Likewise, in the same book, he makes a defence of Irving Kristol and denotes the common bond of "old Whig"ish thinking held by Hayek, Kristol and himself.

On FreeRepublic, over the years as well, common ground for common Principles have often been found. This endures outside the inter-site battles and bans and fosters a respect that debate can't erase.

228 posted on 01/19/2006 8:26:20 AM PST by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free....)
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To: KC Burke

>>in the end the positive recognition is made that those outside the circle of belief can hold morals in a manner consistant with conservatism and seperate from the rationalists of the left.<<

That may be true. But many atheists in Christian societies learnt their values from the dominant Christian culture, even though they may no longer believe in the existence of a deity.


244 posted on 01/19/2006 8:41:37 AM PST by ComtedeMaistre
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