Atheists and American Political Parties

[Seasanctuary]

Why are so few of us atheists with the Republican party?

[spiritmech]

We tried to make the tent smaller, honest we did, but you filled out the application and checked all the right boxes, so you don't smell too bad.

Christians are not allowed in this forum. Please check the rules for this thread.

[flipper]

Why are so few of us atheists with the Republican party?

Not sure, really. Probably because the repubs have a cultural tendency towards social control (anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-religion, etc), would be my guess. No one wants to ally themselves with a group who, as a general tendency, have an antipathy towards your world view. I admire the log-cabin republicans in the same way, but my personal view is to not affiliate where I feel I'm not wanted.

I'd like to see more atheists in the Republican Party if only because atheism is represented by a plurality of views and also because it would be good to have voices in the GOP that mitigate the tendency towards religious conservatism.

[EvoUK]

republicans tend to be more religious and right-leaning. Atheists, not having any religious beliefs generally speaking, tend to be more liberal. An easy example of this is a cursory look over at infidels at the moment. Pretty much all the atheists over there are Kerry supporters.

[EvoUK]

Can you imagine the outrage if an atheist went for presidency? America is still too religiously backward to be ready for something like that.

[Seasanctuary]

Atheists, not having any religious beliefs generally speaking, tend to be more liberal.

Why's that?

[Seasanctuary]

Not sure, really. Probably because the repubs have a cultural tendency towards social control (anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-religion, etc), would be my guess.

Both major parties emphasize social control in some areas and freedoms in others. Often it looks like historical accident has more to do with which areas go with which party...than any overriding philosophy.

No one wants to ally themselves with a group who, as a general tendency, have an antipathy towards your world view. I admire the log-cabin republicans in the same way, but my personal view is to not affiliate where I feel I'm not wanted.

That's a good point. I believe that same sex marriage should be a recognized right. The Republican party is mostly very opposed to that, but that doesn't mean I have to go over to the Democratic party and buy into all their various positions.

[Gilgaron]

I vote Republican or Libertarian depending on the candidate. I agree that it is the social conservatism that probably drives the athiests away. My mother is very religious and yet doesn't agree with the social conservative aspects of the Republican party. She sees it as the lesser evil compared to the Democrats economic policies.

I took this test (http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/index.php) and it had me fairly centered left/right and very libertarian on the lib/authoritarian axis.

[steamer]

I'm still narrowly republican, although I think it's swung so far right it's time to jump ship.

[EvoUK]

Socially liberal or economically liberal? I definitely see a trend toward social liberalism in atheists, but that trend isn't so pronounced economically as far as I can see.

As for being socially liberal I would think it would be difficult not to be since social conservatism is frequent linked to and stems from organized religion.

Gays are bad because the bible says so, abortion is bad because the bible says so, etc. Since atheists, by definition, reject the dogma inherent in the god belief systems of morality we have to think about the issues ourselves rather than accept a dictate from a church. It's difficult to view homosexuals as "bad" when you don't have a god screaming it at you. You have to ask "why are they bad?" and the instant you do that you see the silliness in judging people on account of their sexuality.

Social conservatives are generally traditionalists and moralists of some degree, and that fits in well with the usually conservative undertones of various holy books, including the bible.

Atheists as a rule tend to be humanistic which is more a social thing, leading them to be liberal.