Politics and Atheism

I have tried to steer clear of politics because this blog's raison d'être is to detail why I am no longer an Evangelical Christian and, frankly, politics had nothing to do with my de-conversion. Many of my readers are probably left of center politically as that that seems to be the case with most atheists. I don't think there is, or that there needs to be, any direct correlation between one's disbelief in god(s) and one's political stance. Yet, some atheist bloggers seem to assume that to be atheist means that one is also a political liberal.

I classify myself as a libertarian, although I don't necessarily agree with every plank of the Libertarian Party platform . I believe in fiscal conservatism but not social conservatism. I think smaller government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations are desirable.

I have discovered that I am not alone. Here are some notable non-believers whose political views are quite similar to mine:

Thomas Jefferson
Ayn Rand
George Will
Christopher Hitchens

Here are some conservative atheist groups on the internet:

Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League

The Atheist Conservative

The Secular Right

The Conservative Humanist Association

The Secular Conservative

Here is an excellent article by Heather McDonald, entitled, "Not all conservatives have a direct line to God, and they don't want one, either," in The Chicago Sun-Times of September 3, 2006. She argues that one does not need to believe in God in order to believe in conservative values and in reality the marriage between religion and conservatism , as exemplified by the religious right,  is destructive to conservative values.

So, if you are a political liberal, I respect your views but please don't make those views a test of "atheist orthodoxy." There is room for us to disagree on political matters while agreeing that there is no reason to believe in god(s).