Oddly enough, Christians can also claim to own the liberal movement by the premeses of the original post. A goodly portion of black Protestant churches support liberal candidates and causes, as do many Protestant and Catholic churches in the Northeast and out West. Something like 70 percent of the population of the U.S. claims to be a Christian of one stripe or another, while the number of self-proclaimed atheists hover around 1 to 2 percent. As about half the country votes liberal in any given election, this is a strong indication that many liberal voters are also Christians.
Maybe it's the word "own".
Christians do not own Conservatism. No more than atheists own Liberalism. And Christians should not attempt to legislate religion into law.
If you really believe that atheist are only 1-2% of the population, I have a bridge in N.Y. for sale, cheap!
Perhaps that reflects the percentage that industrial religion admits to, but it is a LONG way from my own observations.
If I had to guess, I would say that atheist and agnostics probably make up about 30% of the U.S. population. Just my guess based on observation.
It could be that a LOT of people who answer "Christian" to poll's are not at all active in their professed faith, and do not make any display of it in dress or conversation.