For many the concept of atheist conservatives are polar opposites. Liberals are portrayed as the new, free from religion political group. This contrasts with the god-fearing, ultra religiosity of conservatives.
This has led to the belief that if you are an atheist, you can’t be a conservative, right? Wrong! You can be an non religious conservative, it is possible! And this minority of conservatives is growing rapidly.
The god complex
When you think of a traditionally conservative country or state, you probably think of Saudi Arabia and Texas. Despite the fact that conservatism in the west is often associated with Christianity, Islam also works here too!
Saudi Arabia
The country that doesn’t allow women to drive. The country that doesn’t allow homosexuality. The country that doesn’t allow a husband and wife to walk side by side.
To liberals, this is outrageous! To some (western) conservatives, the latter is a little over the top. But to most Saudis, this is completely normal and is a shock when they realize other countries don’t do the same!
When you think of Saudi Arabia, no matter if you’re a liberal or a conservative, you think of somewhere that hasn’t changed much in 50 years!
And there looks to be no sign of it changing! It looks like it will remain the ultra-conservative state it is!
Texas
Think of a movie where the main character goes to Texas. It’s usually some old farming town, with sand (lot of sand!) 1950 Chevy trucks, an 1850’s style saloon, cowboy hats and a big white church!
To be an atheist in Texas is stereotypically like finding a dry piece of the ocean- ie. It isn’t going to happen! Texas has voted Republican since 1960, in every presidential election and mid-term since then!
To the outside world, and undoubtedly many in Texas, Texas is a conservative stronghold. Texas is also a deeply religious state, being considered in the top three in most cases!
The generational complex
Increasingly, atheism is increasing. Liberals are seeing it as a way to escape the morality (or their perceived immorality) of God. Young people have been choosing to not go to church once old enough more and more.
As young people are more often than not, more liberal than conservative (although young conservatives certainly exist!) it is increasing the perception that all (or most) liberals are atheist. Which is wrong.
Me
I’m in my early thirties. I have several friends who are several years younger than me, atheist and vehemently conservative. One even, bordering on the far right at certain points in time.
I have worked for several conservative think tanks, as a political analyst and as a lobbyist.
Whilst I was baptized as a child, and attended church regularly as a child, I do not do that now. Yet I still consider myself a conservative. An atheist conservative at that!
I still believe that we shouldn’t raise taxes on the rich. I still believe that we shouldn’t introduce a wealth tax. I still believe that privatization is often more positive than negative. I just don’t believe in God.
Well no, I think that there is certainly an all powerful force who set about things like the big bang. I’m just not sure that it’s a God like we see in the Bible, Torah, Quran or any other mainstream religious text.
I believe that there is some almighty force or something beyond human comprehension that is our ‘God’! As such, I would consider myself an atheist conservative in the vaguest sense of the term!
The growing emergence
And I am not alone. In fact, there are thousands of atheist conservatives throughout the world. Perhaps the most famous atheist conservative is Warren Buffett, the infamous stock investor and billionaire.
I was recently at the house of an old acquaintance of mine. He had his father and I (who get along very well) over dinner. During dinner, we always end up getting into some conversation about politics in some regard.
This time, it was the state of socialism and communism in a post Brexit world. During this debate I brought up that God (and by extension the Bible) does have a sense of right and wrong, as well as morality.
I wondered what he had thought about where we’d be in 10 or 15 years if communism or socialism came to power. More in the sense of morality and the law.
He simply turned and told me that he’d been a member of the conservative party since 1956, and he hadn’t worshiped God since he was 12! Yet he too considered himself a conservative. (In fact he served in the House of Parliament for the Conservatives too!)
When I questioned him on whether he was alone, he said that there were several other atheist Tories that served alongside him. It was just that he made it public, they didn’t.
Apparently, he still gets invited to certain Tory Party functions and sees that the number of non religious conservatives are increasing. Especially so with the youngest members of the party.
Everyday, more atheist are becoming conservative. After all, there’s an old adage that goes something like:
When you’re young, you’re after more change in society, as you get older, you want that same society to stay the same and not move.
And atheists are getting older and older and more abundant the more time that passes. And this will continue to happen!
The old vs the new
For many old school conservatives, especially those who have spent a lifetime serving the conservative cause, this will be hard to take in. For many, conservatism and religion go hand in hand.
Many of them, including many of my own elderly relatives, see atheist conservatism as merely liberal conservatism. That is to say, that these people aren’t really conservatives in the first place!
For many younger conservatives, the rise of neopolitics has made it clear. Conservatism needs to adapt and change to suit the younger generations. Especially those who feel as though the liberal parties and their policies are wrong.
Because, in the end, if we ostracize the future of conservatism, we doom conservatism to the pages of history. Gone forever.
Do you believe that atheist conservatives are conservatives or merely liberals who pretend they’re conservatives? Tell me in the comments!