Well, here's something I have never seen before: A Conservative Atheist

[Thtwudbeme]

I swear, I have never seen one of these. I have met, and know, a Libertarian Atheist---but, this is completely new to me:

http://freeconservative.org/phorum/read.php?f=10&i=2&t=1#reply_2

[Mythsaje]

1. It's obvious that stupidity doesn't require religion...n/t

[Kierkegaard]

12. Yes, but it's an excellent catalyst... eom

[bowens43]

2. There's a few over at the freakrepublic

it's a real hoot to watch them argue about evolution with the fundies.

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. There are plenty of closet athiests on the right

But they are quite willing to play along to get what they want.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. I'm glad the 2 that exist found each other. Now they have someone to talk

to....

[Hissyspit]

5. I have several rabidly anti-Christian right-wing friends.

They just ignore the many inherent contradictions within their philosophies.

[Cleita]

6. My father was one. He was a Republican and an Atheist.

But back when he died being conservative was a lot more liberal than today. Back then he believed in fiscal responsibility, working hard to get ahead, and oh yes being honest and good for your word, staying out of debt and he also believed that he had to extend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself.

He wouldn't recognize his Party today.

[Taxloss]

7. There are actually quite a few.

It's entirely possible to be a very strong atheist and yet socially and fiscally Conservative, just as it is entirely possible to be a devout Christian and strongly socially and economically liberal.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. When you say socially conservative,

do you mean that these atheists are anti-choice? If so, what is their reasoning? Just curious.

[Taxloss]

15. Well, there are some anti-choice atheists

but I meant the term in a far broader sense - for instance, atheists who believe in the value of monogamy and commitment, atheists who strongly disapprove of the sexualisation of young people, atheists who dislike immodest dress - these types exist.

Their reasoning I would have to leave to them. But morality comes from within the person, not from an imposed religion; if they think it's wrong, their feeling is as valid as that of a theist.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. Oh, I don't disagree with the validity of their feeling

I was just wondering what their justification for being anti-choice was. Now I understand-it has nothing to do with when life begins, just morals. Just one other question, if you don't mind-do you feel these people also think a raped woman should be forced to carry the baby to term? I mean, to my mind, that is strictly a moral issue-should the victim of an immoral and viscious attack be forced to bear a child she never wanted and does not desire to keep?

[Taxloss]

31. Since the basis of atheist ethics (indeed, almost all ethics) is

the notion of "free will", and the rape victim lost her free will in the attack, I would imagine that they wouldn't object to an abortion in those circumstances. But I don't want to presume on their behalf (I hasten to add that I am pro-choice).

They tend to be oddly bloodless people, IMHO.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

35. Thank you for your answer

I was thinking that, to be consistant, they would have to say abortion is justified in the case of rape. But, as you say, this is just speculation. Hmm. If I encounter a pro-life atheist at least I have some questions to ask them!

[JanMichael]

27. I've only had experiance with one anti-choice atheist.

It was a weird exchange to say the least. Sort of like discussing abortion with a true blue fundie.

But like I said I've only dealt with one and I imagine this is a rare bird.

[InsultComicDog]

8. There are lots of them

Probably 1/4 of atheists/agnostics consider themselves conservative.

Usually they are aligned more with the libertarians.

[InsultComicDog]

9. The atheism forum at about.com

regularly has posters coming in for the first time and saying they are atheists but conservative (or Republican).

Maybe not as many as there used to be.

[Mutley]

10. I've met a few.

;)

[Wickerman]

11. Ha, if there is indeed a God, they are doubly

fucked. :rofl:

[BlueEyedSon]

22. LOL!

[yasmina27]

14. My husband is one

He absolutely does not believe in God or any sort of afterlife.

However, he is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative who absolutely despises bush and his ilk. He says there is nothing conservative about these a#$@holes in Washington and proudly drives our car with the "IMPEACH BUSH" magnet on it. He also loves our Prius with the magnet that says "What Exactly are Coservatives Conserving?".

His father was the original "Rove" of the Repuke party, long before they turned the way they did. He worked for the RNC. My husband and his siblings spent many an afternoon at Repuke headquarters in Pittsburgh. His sister, whom I love dearly and would trust with my life, swears that she met GW there with the Mellons and Scaifes during the time he was supposedly with the National Guard. We have no proof, so there's nothing we can do.

He believes that "born-again" Christians are whackos, as do I.

Me, I'm a born-and-bred life-long unionized non-apologetic democrat.

[Mrspeeker]

16. By definition I'm a Conservative Atheist

Conservative: Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Atheist: One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

Well first off the people who stoled the word conservative are not very conservative they have changed more stuff in one year than had been changed in like 20, and of course having a 7 trillion dollar deficit is not very conservative and I dont think traditional values are corporate control of everything.

And thats right I dont believe in gods or a god, I believe in evolution and science but not scientology LOL. Religion was a early form of government that really never got past the separation of church and state. Although its intentions are grand its still can't fully explain itself through science of course or evolution. Its just another form of control for the week minded in my opinion.

So the truth be known
I am by definition, a Conservative Atheist
sorry if it offends anyone!

[electricray]

17. Seems to me that conservative atheism has all the benefits

of thinking you are better than everyone else without all of the attribution to anyone or anything else. In that regard conservative atheism makes a hell of a lot more sense than conservative religious fundamentalism. I mean, conservatives are wholly unwilling to attribute any of their own successes to anything the society in which they succeed has offered them and yet the fundamentalist Christians can't attribute success (theirs and mine) to "God" fast enough. Atheism at least doesn't require them to live with that duality. Plus it seems that it would be easier to attribute the evil in society to random chance than the machinations of some mysterious diety so the atheist conservative doesn't have to feel guilty or ashamed that the things they do to society are making baby Jesus cry.

It doesn't really matter which philosophy, religion, or life vision they prefer. The problem arises once they have made the leap to the furthest fundamentalist view of their belief of choice. In my view there are so many different view points out there, each with their own merit, many of which I know very little about, that I will hesitate to assign judgement whenever possible. But then again I guess it is at the kernel of liberal thought that we encourage big tent acceptance. So I doubt that I am in the minority around here.

Note: I am not a Christian and sometimes my attempts at humor to make a point can be offensive to those who are. I humbly apologize to anyone that takes offense at my ramblings. I don't mean to hurt anyone, in fact just the opposite. I would just as quickly laugh at my own spirituality should someone joke about it. That being said, if I ever do cross a line that I should avoid please feel free to let me know about it. I only want to learn how better to respect everyone.

[eallen]

18. There's no essential conflict between conservatism & atheism. HOWEVER....

Today's GOP doesn't have much to do with conservatism, but instead is the party of the religious right. Any atheist today who supports the GOP is very much like the chicken who votes for Colonel Sanders.

[kestrel91316]

19. I think my BF is one of these, lol....................

He is a lapsed Catholic, nearly atheist as far as I know, but spouts Rush and O'Liely like a parrot.

He's a sweetie to me, so I give him a special dispensation.........

[Festivito]

20. His English is that of a CON.

I knew an atheist Republican speechwriter. But he's now anti-Bush, but still a RepubliCON in name.

There should be more. There is a certain arrogance in believing in a God or no-god.

But, the number one perveyor of atheism had been the turn-of-the-last-century leftists. So, I'd guess the majority would still be lefties.

I'm thinking that a RepubliCON atheist would have little problem using religion as a tool to further his personal wealth, i.e. individual responsibility. There would be little need to push idealism with atheism, and so it would have no need of being revealed.

[JanMichael]

26. Most of the online and real world Atheists that I've known are Left to Far

Left. Including myself (Far/Hard Left).

That also includes my family who are all Leftish Dems and my co-workers who are all either Progressive Dems or flat out Socialists.

Most of the "CONservative" Athiests that I've met (Mostly online but a couple in person) are hardcore Randroids. Which in my opinion are slightly below Hemmoroids on the enlightenment scale.

They are ruthless. I agree that they'd use religion to their benefit regardless of the contradictions.

However that said we are mostly, primarily, on the Left.

[LynneSin]

21. Yeah, that rates up there with Log Cabin Republicans

Gays who vote for Bush

:crazy:

[salin]

25. similar thought ala... well that must be pretty lonely...

[Mythsaje]

28. Or Pagan republicans...

I can get Libertarian Pagans, but the idea of a Repuglican one puzzles the hell out of me. It's like a chicken voting for the fox to guard the henhouse.

[InsultComicDog]

29. Well a lot of them also believe that religion is a good thing

for the masses, in that it gets them to behave...

even if they personally do not believe.

[vssmith]

24. Not many are real Christians either if..

following the words of Jesus counts. Jesus talked at great length about taking care of the poor and helpless. I have real problems believing that HE would be a Republican!!

[kiraboo]

30. My father: a conservative atheist who used to be libertarian.

A few months ago I was devasted to discover he voted - again - for the shrub. When I asked him why he said that "nobody could have known what would happen." A vague response and not one either of us believed. At least I know that, in his heart, he repents.

[Ohio Joe]

32. I had always assumed most of them were

Regardless of what they may say or how they may use religion, I do not see how they could act the way they do... do the things they do if they truly believed.

[RebelOne]

33. Michelle Malkin is an atheist.

[Sgent]

34. My dad

for one is an atheist, though he go down as Jewish on most survey's (member of a shul, identifies with the culture and peoplehood, not the religion).

He was oddly libertarian/repub for a long time. Recently he has almost totally thrown off the repub mantle, and now consider's himself independent.

Core beliefs are libertarian socially, and conservative fiscally. I think a lot of what he believes (not all) would be well accepted on this forum.

Core fiscal beliefs are:
* The government should insure everyone has an equal chance (pell grants, public ed, etc).
* Everyone should have access to basic neccessities (healthcare, food, housing, clothing)
* Beyond that, it should be up to individuals
* The government should be as small as possible, not interfere with commerce except to gaurentee that there are no falsehoods, etc.