# What is it like to be an atheist in the Democratic Party? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267 "2015-04-09T21:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/21 "2015-04-10T15:22:55Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > If you mean, do I feel like I’m “with my people” That was what I was asking, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/22 "2015-04-10T15:25:24Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > My question for you is where do you get the idea that most Democrats are Atheist? I didn’t say that. This isn’t a statistical question. It’s an opinion and experience question; whether atheists feel “at home” in the Democratic Party the way many Christians feel “at home” in the Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/23 "2015-04-10T15:27:17Z")
[This is probably closer](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/09/10/the-politics-of-race-and-religion-in-two-pie-charts/) to a breakdown that you might be looking for. According to that, 11% of Republicans are “religiously unaffiliated” vs 24% of Democrats. Those that self-identify as Christians of one stripe or another are the majority, (unsurprisingly I think), of both parties. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/24 "2015-04-10T15:45:38Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The subject rarely comes up. I ignore other people’s religiosity, and don’t express my atheism unless it’s appropriate. This. What an odd OP. What’s it like being left-handed at a Phish concert? I suppose the OP thinks that atheists choose the Dems as the lesser of two evils for those situations when lawmaking does intersect with religion (and lack thereof), and are disappointed when Dem lawmakers express their religiosity, either personally or through their lawmaking. Perhaps the OP was recalling a thread from about a year ago, speculating whether Obama is a closet atheist – with some progressive Dopers saying “I hope so!” or “don’t I wish!”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/25 "2015-04-10T15:47:00Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I didn’t say that. This isn’t a statistical question. > > It’s an opinion and experience question; whether atheists feel “at home” in the Democratic Party the way many Christians feel “at home” in the Republican Party. Not really. The chances of finding a Christian at either a Democratic or Republican Party rally are extremely good. The chances of finding an atheist is slim to none at either. Why do _you_ think an atheist might feel more at home in the Democratic Party, since you brought it up? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/26 "2015-04-10T15:56:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why do _you_ think an atheist might feel more at home in the Democratic Party, since you brought it up? Democrats, by and large, seem much more likely to favor evolution, separation of church and state, skepticism of religion, etc. Looking at the Republican and Democratic Parties, why would an atheist opt for the Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/27 "2015-04-10T16:07:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Looking at the Republican and Democratic Parties, why would an atheist opt for the Republicans? Because some of us think that economic issues are more important than social issues. Also, I challenge your statement that Democrats are more “skeptical of religion”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/28 "2015-04-10T16:07:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Looking at the Republican and Democratic Parties, why would an atheist opt for the Republicans? The non-religious/atheist Republicans I know tend to be of the fiscally conservative and libertarian sort. I don’t find the idea of an atheist Republican particularly odd. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/29 "2015-04-10T16:15:19Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Democrats, by and large, seem much more likely to favor evolution, separation of church and state, skepticism of religion, etc. There’s absolutely no bar on the first two items from being religious. And really only a slight bar on the third. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/30 "2015-04-10T16:21:46Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > I disagree, while I admit to not having all the background details on the linked graphic. Here is a Gallup cross-reference: > [@"\[Gallup](#): > > ([Religion Remains a Strong Marker of Political Identity in U.S.](http://www.gallup.com/poll/174134/religion-remains-strong-marker-political-identity.aspx?utm_source=CATEGORY_RELIGION_AND_POLITICS&utm_medium=topic&utm_campaign=tiles))"]Gallup classifies Americans as “very religious” if they say religion is an important part of their daily lives and that they attend religious services every week or almost every week. That group constituted 41% of all U.S. adults in the first half of 2014. “Nonreligious” Americans (30% of Americans in 2014) are those who say religion is not an important part of their daily lives and that they seldom or never attend religious services. The remaining group, 29%, are classified as “moderately religious.” These people say religion is important in their lives but that they do not attend services regularly, or that religion is not important but that they still attend services. Chart further down the page lists: (%very-religious/%moderately-religious/%non-religious) Republicans —— 49/38/29 Independents — 11/14/15 Democrats ——– 36/44/52 So about half of Democrats are non-religious, which is equivalent to about half of Republicans being very religious. The numbers seem pretty close to mirror-balanced by party. But I think a large portion of “non-religious” includes nominal believers who just lack much interest in church or feel disaffected to or even hostile toward religious institutions. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/31 "2015-04-10T16:26:07Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Democrats, by and large, seem much more likely to favor evolution No. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/32 "2015-04-10T16:30:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The non-religious/atheist Republicans I know tend to be of the fiscally conservative and libertarian sort. I don’t find the idea of an atheist Republican particularly odd. Karl Rove is an atheist, so you have some evidence to back you up. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/33 "2015-04-10T16:35:05Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > So about half of Democrats are non-religious . . . No, about half of the non-religious are Democrats. Based on the Gallup numbers, about 36% of Democrats are non-religious. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/34 "2015-04-10T16:40:49Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > No. > **[Republicans’ views on evolution](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/01/03/republican-views-on-evolution-tracking-how-its-changed/)** > > Significantly fewer Republicans believe in evolution than did so four years ago, setting them apart from Democrats and independents. But behind this finding is a puzzle: If the views of the overall public have remained steady, and there has been... ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/35 "2015-04-10T16:43:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Democrats, by and large, seem much more likely to favor evolution, separation of church and state, skepticism of religion, etc. So do a large chunk of the Church of England. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/36 "2015-04-10T17:07:32Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Here is a Gallup cross-reference: > Chart further down the page lists: > (%very-religious/%moderately-religious/%non-religious) > Republicans —— 49/38/29 > Independents — 11/14/15 > Democrats ——– 36/44/52 > > So about half of Democrats are non-religious, which is equivalent to about half of Republicans being very religious. The numbers seem pretty close to mirror-balanced by party. But I think a large portion of “non-religious” includes nominal believers who just lack much interest in church or feel disaffected to or even hostile toward religious institutions. You’re reading that chart wrong (or I’m misunderstanding you). The columns add up to 100% going down (okay, not quite, but almost 100%), not across. IOW, 52% of non-religous folk identify as Democrats, not 52% of Democrats are non-religious. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/37 "2015-04-10T17:24:36Z")
So, taking those numbers, if my math is right, we have this: 41% of Americans identify as “Very religious” 29% of Americans identify as “Moderately religious” 30% of Americans identify as “Non-religious” (not quite the same as “atheist.”) So, applying that to the numbers, we get (rounded to the nearest quarter): Of all Americans: (very religious, moderately religious, non-religious, total) Republicans: 20%, 11%, 9% = 40% Independents: 4.5%, 4%, 4.5% = 13% Democrats: 14.75%, 12.75%, 15.5% = 43% Total: 96% Or, for each party: Republican: 50% 27.5% 22.5% Independent: 34.5% 30.75% 34.5% Democrats: 34.25% 29.75% 36% ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/38 "2015-04-10T17:37:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Karl Rove is an atheist, so you have some evidence to back you up. **Clothahump** is one of the most conservative posters on here as well as one of the most openly atheist. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/39 "2015-04-10T17:40:36Z")
What a strange question. I’m an atheist and a Democrat, it never comes up. If I were to guess, a lot of other Democrats are religious, but mostly don’t think religiousity should be enforced by the state. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267/40 "2015-04-10T17:43:52Z")
I have participated in organized Democratic politics. Most of the people I have been friends with have also been sincerely religious, including of the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh variety. I have never had an activist friend who was an atheist that mentioned it. They would be accepted just the same. Religion comes up as a side topic and isn’t the reason these people get together as far as I can tell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-democratic-party/717267.md?page=3)