Atheists who swing to the right
From Not My God
I don’t often hear from atheists who are politically/socially conservative. I know they’re out there, albeit probably much fewer than their more liberal counterparts. I’ve heard at least one atheist say that he’s a truck driver, voted for Bush twice, etc., and no one would guess that he’s an atheist. True, I wouldn’t have.
I’m a liberal myself, although it does disconcert me to a degree that I agree with conservatives on a few issues. (Affirmative action, for example. What’s up with that?!) There are many different kinds of conservatives out there– not all of them the bible-thumping, abstinence-only sex ed promoting, NASCAR-loving, Franklin Mint buying, Republican rednecks I’ve grown to know and loathe. Emphasis on the bible-thumping here.
My guess is that conservative atheists being more prominent would counter the dislike many religiosi have of atheists as elitist, ivory-tower, Ivy League eggheads, since conservatives, even when they’re Ivy educated, are rarely disparaged like that. I’m a little skeptical of the term “elitist.” In the case of Obama’s campaign, for example, “elitist” was simply a disparaging way of saying “smart and educated.” To quote Homer Simpson, “Phthth, eggheads, what do they know?”
Let me hear from you conservatives. Probably, you’re mostly libertarians, but maybe a lot of you are rednecks (and proud of it!), and I don’t mean that in a way that’s necessarily degrading. I’m a comedian and a huge fan of my colleague Jeff Foxworthy and his like. Point is, libertarian atheists are already prominent– but what about the latter: the social conservatives?
I found this site, The Atheist Conservative, which had little to say about atheism and was more a rant on Obama. It made relevant points, but its endorsement of Ann Coulter made me say, “Done!”
There are other sites for conservative atheists. The socially conservative ones had a negative stance on abortion, for example. I personally think abortion should be safe and legal, but the point is I’m particularly interested in the atheists who oppose it and similar platforms.
I want to hear from you, guys! Tell me about yourselves a little. I promise not to be a stereotypical latte-slurping, laptop-toting, Obama-hugging, Prius-driving, NPR-listening (uh, I’m not sure where to stop with this)– well, just write in and say hi.
I don’t often hear from atheists who are politically/socially conservative. I know they’re out there, albeit probably much fewer than their more liberal counterparts. I’ve heard at least one atheist say that he’s a truck driver, voted for Bush twice, etc., and no one would guess that he’s an atheist. True, I wouldn’t have.
I’m a liberal myself, although it does disconcert me to a degree that I agree with conservatives on a few issues. (Affirmative action, for example. What’s up with that?!) There are many different kinds of conservatives out there– not all of them the bible-thumping, abstinence-only sex ed promoting, NASCAR-loving, Franklin Mint buying, Republican rednecks I’ve grown to know and loathe. Emphasis on the bible-thumping here.
My guess is that conservative atheists being more prominent would counter the dislike many religiosi have of atheists as elitist, ivory-tower, Ivy League eggheads, since conservatives, even when they’re Ivy educated, are rarely disparaged like that. I’m a little skeptical of the term “elitist.” In the case of Obama’s campaign, for example, “elitist” was simply a disparaging way of saying “smart and educated.” To quote Homer Simpson, “Phthth, eggheads, what do they know?”
Let me hear from you conservatives. Probably, you’re mostly libertarians, but maybe a lot of you are rednecks (and proud of it!), and I don’t mean that in a way that’s necessarily degrading. I’m a comedian and a huge fan of my colleague Jeff Foxworthy and his like. Point is, libertarian atheists are already prominent– but what about the latter: the social conservatives?
I found this site, The Atheist Conservative, which had little to say about atheism and was more a rant on Obama. It made relevant points, but its endorsement of Ann Coulter made me say, “Done!”
There are other sites for conservative atheists. The socially conservative ones had a negative stance on abortion, for example. I personally think abortion should be safe and legal, but the point is I’m particularly interested in the atheists who oppose it and similar platforms.
I want to hear from you, guys! Tell me about yourselves a little. I promise not to be a stereotypical latte-slurping, laptop-toting, Obama-hugging, Prius-driving, NPR-listening (uh, I’m not sure where to stop with this)– well, just write in and say hi.
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Comment by Jake Grey on January 21, 2010 at 1:11pm -
I'm a mix of liberal, fiscally responsible, libertarian. I don't think any political group (liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat) can honestly claim being fiscally responsible. They both have their blank-check agenda (no budget for war, open costs for health care, both corporate welfare). If i have to choose, I'd lean toward a 'blank-check' for health care over a 'blank check' for wars and military spending.
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Comment by Shine on January 21, 2010 at 5:26pm -
Great topic, I'm really interested to hear the responses myself. I would classify myself as socially liberal and financially ignorant, so I really have nothing to add. I want to like some libertarian ideas that I read about, but I always find myself unable to let go of the ideas of public education and health care.
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Comment by Silenus on January 21, 2010 at 6:25pm -
I don't consider myself a "redneck"
but i do enjoy some of the redneck tags like
Nascar, shooting anything that moves, mudboggin, etc....
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Comment by Brad on January 22, 2010 at 4:46pm
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I'm not extremely political BUT, a good article that sort of articulates what I've been thinking for a long time, though not completely, is here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/wilson-jl/wilson-james29.html
Though I'm 'socially liberal' in the sense that I support the separation of church and state, and am pro 'gay rights', I lean right hardcore on gun rights and unobstructed business rights. I actually think those slogans like "You'll take my guns out of my cold, dead hands." and images like 'Race Card' with Jesse Jackson are hilarious.
I may HATE the general ignorance and outright fucking stupidity of rednecks but I find things to admire in everyone. I identify with their work ethics and take no shit attitude, and even like SELECT country music.
blah blah blah just bored. posting a quick 2 cents
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Comment by Sarah Trachtenberg on January 26, 2010 at 4:00pm
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@Shine, bravo for having the wit and honesty to call yourself "financially ignorant." I think I am, too, in the standard sense.
@Forrest-- you are just the sort I am talking about. Do you also like Jeff Foxworthy?
@AndyI-- when/for whom was the last time you voted, President or otherwise?
@Brad-- I read a great book called Playing the Race Card about skepticism and "crying wolf" about racism. I'd love to see a similar book about religious whiners who think they're getting oppressed, i.e. Christians who are upset that we're trying to keep creation "science" out of their schools...
Now I'm on a tangent. Thanks for writing, everyone!
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Comment by Shine on January 26, 2010 at 8:31pm
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Lol, I'm glad that you appreciated that, Sarah. I keep telling myself that someday I am going to take a couple economics/business classes and make an earnest effort to financially educate myself, but there are always much more interesting things to study it seems.
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@Shine: I may be the only Jew who doesn't know about economics in the traditional sense, but I do know enough to realize that "buy low, sell high" can't really work bc if everyone did it, it, well, wouldn't work. I also know enough to ask intelligent (or so I hope) questions about supply and demand and such. OK, this is off-topic, but I'm just explaining to the economic conservatives that I'm not totally ignorant. For the record, I have read "A Random Walk Down Wall Street."
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