# Are there any conserative Athiests out there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 1, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266 "2003-05-01T01:22:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/21 "2003-05-01T05:35:35Z")
**Marley23** : I’m a libertarian, so yes, I am infavor of eliminating social welfare programs. However, this is not at all what I meant by that comment. What I meant is that I generally do not accept arguments that one’s responsibility for one’s own actions should be mitigated by circumstance, unless they are a consequence of force or fraud on the part of another. For example, I do not feel that the argument “I had to steal food, because I was poor and hungry” makes one less of a thief. This is, however, a serious digression from the subject of the thread; I offer it only as a clarification rather than a point of argument. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/22 "2003-05-01T05:36:03Z")
I think that this whole debate just goes to show how the big Two Parties have misplaced their priorities. The words liberal and conservative don’t really apply to their policies anymore. Mainstream America is religious, economic liberals, and social conservatives. The big parties are always battling for that chunk of the center. The only real differences are that each’s fringes push the parties left or right. So most free-thinkers vote Republican if economics matter, and Democrat if social issues matter more. As **John Mace** and **AZCowboy** put it. As a Democrat, I’ll chime in that Bush’s brand of economic conservatism doesn’t really deserved to be labeled as “economics” much less “conservatism.” IMHO, of course, for a different thread. I am in the science community, and nearly everyone is an agnostic or atheist liberal. The liberalism abounds probably because our meal ticket comes from huge government initiatives like the NSF, NIH and the CDC. The godlessness in the science community is a well-documented phenomenon. For me, it has to do with working to design carefully controlled replicatable environments to produce results which can be duplicated. Religion is somewhat antithetical to this, and I like to live my life consistently. There are no questions which do not deserved to be answered. Again, another thread. Both the Left and the Right are filled with religious people. Since the Republicans were coopted by the Religious Right types, though, there seem to be more nauseously pious people on the Right. Witness the Bush I quote above. It is certainly part of the reason I vote Democrat or Green – I don’t need my politicians acting holier-than-thou and the Democrats (apart from Joe Lieberman) tend to do it less. ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/23 "2003-05-01T05:55:10Z")
To my knowledge, it’s actually fairly common for atheists and agnostics to be fairly fiscally conservative, with varying distances from Libertarianism. It’s quite rare for atheists to be SOCIALLY conservative (though I’ve met one), due to the tendency of socially conservative ideals to stem from various religions. Of course, there are quite a few liberal atheists. And as a member of that, I can get almost as turned off by some of our religious types (especially New Agers) as I do of the Christian Right. I was downtown several months ago, and I saw this big campaign of people trying to change the calander, which is obviously the source of all strife in the universe. I kid you not. And then I look at myself, and sigh. I resemble these people less than I do **december** , yet we’re at opposite ends of the political spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/24 "2003-05-01T06:08:00Z")
My junior year college room-mate was atheist and conservative. He was of the opinion that humans, being fundamentally primates, had to be properly regulated in a somewhat hierarchical fashion to keep society on an even keel. He was fairly familiar with primatology and psychology (given those were within his field of study), so he could make a reasonable argument in favor of his opinions based entirely upon biology and experimental social science. He was not a totalitarian nor an extreme authoritarian, but he did believe that the basic premises of liberalism were simply too idealistic and based on mystical faith in a human “goodness” that could not be sufficiently well proven by scientific means. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/25 "2003-05-01T12:26:14Z")
I’m an agnostic/ soft atheist and, when forced to define myself politically, I call myself a conservative-leaning moderate. On some issues I am quite liberal (I am, for instance, pro-choice and very, _very_, firmly pro-separation of church and state), on other issues I am conservative (most fiscal and defense issues, for example). I believe I tend to vote for Republicans more often than Democrats, although I haven’t actually done a careful breakdown of my 20 year voting history. When listening to or reading the opinions of right- or left-wing pundits I tend to fall more to the right. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/26 "2003-05-01T13:17:34Z")
For heaven’s sake, Jess, just take the words right out of my mouth, why don’t you?!?!? Pretty much what Jess said… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/27 "2003-05-01T13:33:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eman77 \* > \*\*This maybe one reason why many Athiest don’t seem to like Republicans: > > [http://bennyhills.fortunecity.com/hardy/203/nonbeliever/page50.html](http://bennyhills.fortunecity.com/hardy/203/nonbeliever/page50.html) > > This story was fairly popular back then if I can remember. Well around me that is. I believe Letterman even included it in a Top Ten thing of his once. \*\* Many urban legends are popular. The "reporter’ who started this story was a member of American Atheists who got himself a press credential. None of the other reporters who were present heard or reported this alleged exchange, and none of it was ever recorded. It’s made up. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![braces\_for\_impact](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@braces\_for\_impact](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braces_for_impact)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/28 "2003-05-01T13:50:50Z")
Lemure866 said: > [@](#): > > I’m an atheist, and I’d consider myself somewhat conservative, depending on how you define your terms. Given today’s political labels I’d be called a conservative, since I favor a capitalistic economic system, free trade, local control over schools, property rights, limited government, strong communities, strong military defense, low taxes, the general wisdom of already existing social institutions, etc. But I also support separation of church and state, decriminalizing pot and prostitution, I’m not a racist or homophobe, I am an atheist and agree with this almost 100 percent, many would consider me conservative. As to the organic foods, I could care less though . 🙂 The recent Bush administration and the removal of certain civil liberties are swinging my political leanings more towards the center, at least as long as the current administration holds onto power. Of course, the republican —\> religion aspect has always bothered me in any case, and at times voting was like picking the lesser of two evils. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/29 "2003-05-01T13:51:41Z")
OK. According to the very scientific poll represented by this thread we have: 4 conservatives: December, Bill H, Jess, Juanita 3 liberals: Marley\*, Edwino\*, Nethbrian 8 libertarians: WAEinstein, JKlann, Voodoo\*, Apos\*, Mace, Lemmur\*, Some Guy, AZCowboy\* \*means the poster did not openly declare where he/she fell, and I used my best judgement. Sorry If I put you somewhere you don’t like. Feel free to correct me. Note the large number that I had to guess on. If these numbers are correct, it means that atheists tend to be “conservative” on physcal issues but “lberal” on social issues, as many people here have observed. Of course, the causality might work the other way 'round. I’m guessing this Board is skewed when it comes to “conservative atheists”. If we take Dem/Rep to be liberal/conservative, I’d bet good $$ that you will find more atheists as registered Democrats than Republicans. But the libertarians are the real bastion of atheism, may they burn in hell! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/30 "2003-05-01T14:00:22Z")
I am an atheist. I am a conservative for most politcal issues, but favor the liberal side of things as far as freedom of speech and freedom of expression. I am an atheist, I prefer the right, but would like to be able to buy any type of book, art or pornography I’d like. What’s that make me? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/31 "2003-05-01T14:04:04Z")
I’m a registered Republican. I have been since I was old enough to vote. ---
**Author:** ![TheMemeWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TheMemeWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMemeWarrior)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/32 "2003-05-01T14:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*I’m guessing this Board is skewed when it comes to “conservative atheists”. If we take Dem/Rep to be liberal/conservative, I’d bet good $$ that you will find more atheists as registered Democrats than Republicans. But the libertarians are the real bastion of atheism, may they burn in hell! \*\* not that this poll would be close to scienitific anyway but the subject of this thread is requesting conservative athiests so they are more likely to respond. Anyway might as well put me down for liberal hardcore-agnostic. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/33 "2003-05-01T15:15:29Z")
Yeah I’m a liberal. Social and economic. I think we’d all be better off with socialized health care and higher taxes (especially on the rich). I think education should be free. I think the government should play an active role in preventing the formation of a permanent underclass. I think that we should abide by and support international treaties, including the ICC and Kyoto. I am conservative in some things though – I recognize the waste in federal control, I think that unions if left unchecked can be a very harmful force. I support Israel (although I think Sharon is a tool). I think we should have a strong military but I don’t know if I support military spending which totals the amount of the next 17 highest military budgets combined. The left fringe of the Democrats scares me, but not as much as the right fringe of the Republicans. I also think that the Democrats, since Clinton, have been less corrupted by their radical fringe while the Republicans seem dominated by it. So I go Democrat. As would many Democrats, if a truly moderate Republican with some integrity (saaay John McCain) would run, I would probably vote for him even though he is quite conservative on a lot of issues. And if a holier-than-thou Democrat like Joe Lieberman were my only option, I’d love to vote Green or Libertarian. But given the last election, I will be less likely to register a protest vote (even though I live in Texas where I safely can…) ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/34 "2003-05-01T15:40:43Z")
Boy, do I agree with **edwino’s** last paragraph. It leads me to wonder whether the two parties most efficiently reflect the actual political divisions within this country. It seems that many positions become conflated based on historical artifacts of issues long since past. An interesting concept for another thread, perhaps. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/35 "2003-05-01T16:12:47Z")
Crap, it’s threads like this that make you realize how hard it is to pigeon hole someone. Now where’s my scissors… snipped from **Lumur** … > [@](#): > > I favor a capitalistic economic system, free trade, local control over schools, property rights, limited government, strong communities, strong military defense… and from **Someguy** … > [@](#): > > On social issues, I tend to be perceived as lefty because I mostly don’t care what people do if they don’t hurt anyone doing it, but of course that stems from a rejection of paternalism - I don’t think anybody has a particular right to instruct you how to conduct your own life… And I agree completely with the first sentence and the last paragraph of **edwino’s** post. What’s that make me? ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/36 "2003-05-01T16:21:10Z")
I am a libertatian atheist - although a conservative on foreign policy - ie: not an isolationist ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/37 "2003-05-01T16:22:23Z")
preview, preview, preview: \*libertarian ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/38 "2003-05-01T16:37:23Z")
I usually call myself a liberal, and I don’t identify with the libertarians I’ve met. Some of them have a social Darwinist streak that really bothers me, and I just can’t buy the argument that our gun violence problems would do away if we had MORE of the things. 😛 But I’m a liberal in more of a classic sense (the original definition is about allowing all people to reach their full potential as human beings). Most people today (and I’m not saying this is accurate) associate liberals with very proactive government, which I don’t support necessarily. As a general rule, I’d prefer that the government administered a greater number of useful social programs and became less involved in legislating morality and people’s private lives - in other words, I’m in the boat with edwino and stuffy. That’s kind of a left/liberal position. Like I said earlier, I prefer to think of myself as Liberal Classic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/39 "2003-05-01T16:39:18Z")
> [@](#): > > although a conservative on foreign policy - ie: not an isolationist I’m a little confused by this comment, nocturne. Can you clarify it some? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266/40 "2003-05-01T16:42:37Z")
Libertarians are pretty much isolationists in the sense of staying out of foreign “entanglements”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-conserative-athiests-out-there/172266.md?page=3)