Why is the right wing more religious?

[Cooky]

Conservatism refers to conserving the past, or in some cases, returning to it. Liberals created the modern secular state with secular, democratic government, and the changes that led to a relatively large and affluent middle class. Neo-conservatism is all about returning to a state where the wealth, power, and privilege are concentrated again in the hands of the few - as great a return to the ancien regime as possible.

I'd like to focus on this common paradigm, and explore whether it is reality or abstract thinking -because historically, the battlefields of ideology were very different. Once upon a time liberal was a conservative and the conservative a liberal by todays standards, when the monarchy was in power.

Also, during the Goldwater years, during the 50's and 60's, the conservatives were the Atheists and the democrats were the 'religious left'.
Quote by Barry Goldwater: “Mark my word, if and when these preachers get c...”

...Politics are much more fluid than people think. Nothing really *is* as it seems... At least not for very long.

 

[Sand Dancer]

It's interesting that monotheistic religions which preach left wing things like "loving thy neighbour" and the sanctity of life seem to find their home in right wing politics... could it be that life is only sacred until you don't agree with their choices.... surely not....

EDIT: This is an unfair generalisation, thanks for pointing that out. I now mean this only to apply to conservatism - of course it's possible to be a leftie religious person and I'm glad of it, we need more of that sort of thing.

They are more likely to be poor and lack higher education and those things tend to increase religious belief. The higher the education level, the less religious one tends to be.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Nationalist is a derogatory word for a patriot.

Kidding, right?

 

[Shiranui117]

I thought the terms "Democratic socialism" and "social democracy" were the same thing, except were spelled inversely based on grammatical inflection.

...Because they're the same two words.

Yeah no, very different. Social democracy is the default position of most of Europe's center-left parties, whereas Democratic Socialism is the position of far-left parties such as Die Linke in Germany.

 

[Cooky]

Kidding, right?

As Americans, who could easily be self-sufficient, and who don't rely on shared resources with potentially unfriendly neighboring nations, we have no reason to express overwhelming isolation fears as our friends in Europe do... In Europe, where the term "Nationalism" was born, each country is about the size of one of our states, except they all speak different languages, and can be life threatening to one another if they don't get along and share.

...We don't have that problem. Therefore, Nationalism, in America, is a non sequitur. Here, it's just used as an insult for patriots.

 

[Cooky]

They are more likely to be poor and lack higher education and those things tend to increase religious belief. The higher the education level, the less religious one tends to be.

Also, the higher the education level, the more self-centered many prove themselves to be... And with self-centeredness, comes the impudence to **** on peaceful people's beliefs and to smile as you attempt to crush their dreams.

 

[Cooky]

Sociopaths and narcissists are often extremely intelligent. Does that mean we should emulate their behaviors?

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's interesting that monotheistic religions which preach left wing things like "loving thy neighbour" and the sanctity of life seem to find their home in right wing politics... could it be that life is only sacred until you don't agree with their choices.... surely not....

EDIT: This is an unfair generalisation, thanks for pointing that out. I now mean this only to apply to conservatism - of course it's possible to be a leftie religious person and I'm glad of it, we need more of that sort of thing.

Well you know what they say about religion and politics.

Strange bedfellows or something like that.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Right wing politics and Bible religions both require a closed mind.
However neither believe in or practice, love to all men. or indeed much else of what Jesus taught in the Gospels.
Right wing versions of sanctity of life leave out all compassion and reality.

While the left-wing robs you blind and gives it to that Paul fella.

 

[Road Warrior]

It's interesting that monotheistic religions which preach left wing things like "loving thy neighbour" and the sanctity of life seem to find their home in right wing politics... could it be that life is only sacred until you don't agree with their choices.... surely not....

EDIT: This is an unfair generalisation, thanks for pointing that out. I now mean this only to apply to conservatism - of course it's possible to be a leftie religious person and I'm glad of it, we need more of that sort of thing.

Meh. Hypocrites abound and no religion, including atheists, have a monopoly on hypocrisy, hate or all the worst traits of humanity.

OTOH, I think most people, human beings, regardless of beliefs, are good.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Also, the higher the education level, the more self-centered many prove themselves to be... And with self-centeredness, comes the impudence to **** on peaceful people's beliefs and to smile as you attempt to crush their dreams.

Hmm, I don't know about that. It's pretty self centered to think that your particular religion is the only right one.

 

[Cooky]

Hmm, I don't know about that. It's pretty self centered to think that your particular religion is the only right one.

Except that's not the main, de facto theme of mine or most religious faiths.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Except that's not the main, de facto theme of mine or most religious faiths.

Just speaking mostly of Christianity and Islam, which are the largest two religions.

 

[Cooky]

Just speaking mostly of Christianity and Islam, which are the largest two religions.

I agree Islam is that way. Historically, the Jizyah tax proved it. The Islamic conquests into Southern Europe sealed it.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Sociopaths and narcissists are often extremely intelligent. Does that mean we should emulate their behaviors?

Eh more for me, then.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Im actually a liberal soul trapped in a conservative mind in a mans body.

I'm Sauron trapped in Obi-Wan Kenobi's mind in Captain Kirk's body.

 

[Dan Mellis]

Meh. Hypocrites abound and no religion, including atheists, have a monopoly on hypocrisy, hate or all the worst traits of humanity.

OTOH, I think most people, human beings, regardless of beliefs, are good.

I agree. I just think a lot of them are good despite their religion, which tends the other way.

 

[Gnostic Ambivalence]

You can be Left on some issues but Right on others.

I would lean towards full on actual Socialism but I would like see promoting homosexuality made illegal which most people in the West consider Far-Right.

 

[Dan Mellis]

You can be Left on some issues but Right on others.

I would lean towards full on actual Socialism but I would like see promoting homosexuality made illegal which most people in the West consider Far-Right.

That's because it's far right. Nobody "promotes" homosexuality. People promote equal rights and awareness of the issues surrounding homophobia, but not a single kid in the US or Europe is being told "be gay, it's better." They're being told "be yourself, and support others to do the same."

 

[Augustus]

Neo-conservatism is all about returning to a state where the wealth, power, and privilege are concentrated again in the hands of the few - as great a return to the ancien regime as possible.

If you are talking about actual neo-conservatism, neo-cons are generally more liberal than the average US conservative. Most of the founding figures were former Dems and even far left Trotskyists.

An interventionist foreign policy was the core tenet of the ideology.