NationStates Jolt Archive

I, obviously, am such a feeble mided creature that I don't get the connections here:

Democrat = Atheist
Liberal = Atheist
Christian = Republican
God = Republican (okay, a stretch, but I've seen choice comments here that link the two)

Now, how many of these are accurate? Please, I want proof. Preferably typed out, nicely, with proper grammar and punctuation, and as many statistics as you can toss at me. Especially on that last one. ;)

As an atheist, and a very moderate, conservative/libertarian-leaning individual, I am deeply pissed off any time someone spouts off things like:

"Stop whining atheists. This country has been run and always will be run by Christians. That's why the Democrats failed because they tried to embrace your ideals." Obviously, this isn't verbatim, but this kind of crap is just too hard for me to understand. How can you be so ignorant as to assume lack of belief in a god makes you wrong? Or Democrat? Or that belief in a god makes you Republican? The ignorance amazes me.

Just please explain all this to me, since I'm not getting this.

Sorry mate but I cant help you its all silly stereotyping.

wait a second I think I just did explain it
go me!

Democrat, Libertarian, and Christian here.... ohhhh, I know there are people whose worldviews are shaken to their very core now! ;)

Just please explain all this to me, since I'm not getting this.
Some people will do their best to deamonize their enemies ... makes it easier to hate them. They will try to find a link between what their enemies believe and the worst thing they can think of. I suspect that's what's happening here, at least in part.

Yeah, it isn't much other than stereotyping...

However, stereotypes often have a basis in reality (otherwise, they wouldn't exist)...

And in these cases, they arose because there are often very strong correlations between the things you've linked...

No, not all Republicans are Christians, but a good number of them are, or at least their values seem to line up more closely...

Christianity is viewed as very conservative... While atheism, the opposite, also corresponds much better with the opposite political background...

But again, these aren't universal truths, but there is definitely an underlying relationship between those equated groups...

I must disagree with that. Just because a group is stereotyped doesn't mean there is actually any true basis for those assumptions at the moment. Maybe at some brief time in history, the stereotypes were correct, but that doesn't mean they are niowadays. Often enough, they are not at all true now. Take the Germans; at one point some/many of them were Nazis, now many people think of Germans as rightwing bastards. Maybe some of them are, but not all of them!
Also, stereotypes can have a lot to do with the way the outside world sees a group, rather than with numerical significance. People believe the Dutch are all potheads, when in fact the amount of smoking of weed is much lower in the Netherlands than it is in the US or the UK. It's just an image which has turned into a stereotype for lack of other known defining characters.

**The Armed Republic of Lekkerheid**
Proud member of the United Sick Alliance

I can't explain it. But if you want to know an easier way to do the bucket-over-the-door trick, I can oblige. :)

I can't explain it. But if you want to know an easier way to do the bucket-over-the-door trick, I can oblige. :)
oh please do

Maybe this can help...


Religion Bush Kerry Nader

Protestant 59% 40% 0%
Catholic 52% 47% 0%
None 31% 67% 1%


Which can further be shown by...

Average Church Attendance Bush Kerry Nader
More than Weekly 64% 35% 1%
Weekly 58% 41% 0%
Never 36% 62% 1%

Not black-and-white but there's a basis for the stereotype.
Source (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html)

I, obviously, am such a feeble mided creature that I don't get the connections here:

Democrat = Atheist
Liberal = Atheist
Christian = Republican
God = Republican (okay, a stretch, but I've seen choice comments here that link the two)

Now, how many of these are accurate? Please, I want proof. Preferably typed out, nicely, with proper grammar and punctuation, and as many statistics as you can toss at me. Especially on that last one. ;)

As an atheist, and a very moderate, conservative/libertarian-leaning individual, I am deeply pissed off any time someone spouts off things like:

"Stop whining atheists. This country has been run and always will be run by Christians. That's why the Democrats failed because they tried to embrace your ideals." Obviously, this isn't verbatim, but this kind of crap is just too hard for me to understand. How can you be so ignorant as to assume lack of belief in a god makes you wrong? Or Democrat? Or that belief in a god makes you Republican? The ignorance amazes me.

Just please explain all this to me, since I'm not getting this.

Damn you, I'm atheist and I wanted to be a commie!

Yeah, it isn't much other than stereotyping...

However, stereotypes often have a basis in reality (otherwise, they wouldn't exist)...

And in these cases, they arose because there are often very strong correlations between the things you've linked...

No, not all Republicans are Christians, but a good number of them are, or at least their values seem to line up more closely...

Christianity is viewed as very conservative... While atheism, the opposite, also corresponds much better with the opposite political background...

But again, these aren't universal truths, but there is definitely an underlying relationship between those equated groups...

Actually, there aren't very strong correlations here.

Most of the Republicans these days that call themselves Christian are not true Christians (ie. following the teachings of Christ) but are, in fact, fundamentalist, power-hungry politicians. Fundamentalism is rarely, if ever, true to the underlying religious principles.

The vast majority of both parties refer to themselves as Christian, so if we are going by how someone identifies themselves, then none of it correlates with atheism.

Regardless of how some conservatives view Christianity, it is by its very nature quite liberal.

It's strange, because really Christianity teaches compassion, chairty to the poor, turning the other cheek and loving thy neighbour which aren't exactly republican ideals. Weren't the early christians communist as well?

It's strange, because really Christianity teaches compassion, chairty to the poor, turning the other cheek and loving thy neighbour which aren't exactly republican ideals. Weren't the early christians communist as well?
They just need more :fluffle:
Everyone needs more fluffles!

Maybe this can help...


Religion Bush Kerry Nader

Protestant 59% 40% 0%
Catholic 52% 47% 0%
None 31% 67% 1%


Which can further be shown by...

Average Church Attendance Bush Kerry Nader
More than Weekly 64% 35% 1%
Weekly 58% 41% 0%
Never 36% 62% 1%

Not black-and-white but there's a basis for the stereotype.
Source (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html)

Of course, "none" could refer to non-denominational/agnostic/not listed.

And church attendence has never had much to do with true religion.

Of course, "none" could refer to non-denominational/agnostic/not listed.

No, there's an "other" category for that. None means that you have no religion. Kerry actually won the other category by an ever bigger margin, 23% to 74%.

No, there's an "other" category for that. None means that you have no religion. Kerry actually won the other category by an ever bigger margin, 23% to 74%.

You do realize that people define "religion" differently, correct?

Many people believe in a God, but do not consider themselves "religious."

In truth, atheists only make up 0.5-1% of the total population, so the idea that they could even get a significant sample to come up with these percentages is absolutely laughable.

You do realize that people define "religion" differently, correct?

Many people believe in a God, but do not consider themselves "religious."

In truth, atheists only make up 0.5-1% of the total population, so the idea that they could even get a significant sample to come up with these percentages is absolutely laughable.
Yes. If you go by different definitions than the commonly accepted ones, though, the original poster's question cannot be proven. Most people would accept churchgoing as a gauge of religiosity, and most people would consider no religion to equal atheism or something like it. .5-1% of the US population is still rather large, however, and not out of the question that a poll could be done for them (not that the exit polls were).

It's wrong to assume that all Christians are conservatives.
http://www.bergonia.org/Christian%20Origins.htm

Many of the radicals throughout history have been inspired by their Christianity. They would argue that the selfish, intolerant, conservative Christianity of the American Right goes against the Bible's teachings.

Actually, there aren't very strong correlations here.

Most of the Republicans these days that call themselves Christian are not true Christians (ie. following the teachings of Christ) but are, in fact, fundamentalist, power-hungry politicians. Fundamentalism is rarely, if ever, true to the underlying religious principles.

The vast majority of both parties refer to themselves as Christian, so if we are going by how someone identifies themselves, then none of it correlates with atheism.

Regardless of how some conservatives view Christianity, it is by its very nature quite liberal.

Speaking in terms of stances on the various "hot button" issues, we can see some very strong correlations...

Abortion, for instance...

Stereotypically, Democrats are pro-choice, as are athiests... Both are liberally minded...

Stereotypically, Republicans are pro-life, as are Christians... Both are conservatively minded...

Same thing with homosexual rights and marriage...

The core "values" that these various groups hold dear line up very well in many, many cases...

And it doesn't even have to have anything to do with the actual values of Christianity (or atheism)...but everything to do with the perceived values...

Like I said, stereotypically speaking, a Christian will be pro-life... As will a conservative Republican... An athiest is likely to be pro-choice, as is a liberal Democrat...

Stereotypes are by definition based upon perception... The actual truth is irrelevant in how these connections are formed...

Abortion, for instance...

Stereotypically, Democrats are pro-choice, as are athiests... Both are liberally minded...

Stereotypically, Republicans are pro-life, as are Christians... Both are conservatively minded...

The majority of Christians I know are pro-choice and pro-life, simply not anti-choice..

Same thing with homosexual rights and marriage...

The majority of Christians I know believe in equal rights for all.

The core "values" that these various groups hold dear line up very well in many, many cases...

Neither abortion nor homosexuality have anything at all to do with core values of Christianity.

And it doesn't even have to have anything to do with the actual values of Christianity (or atheism)...but everything to do with the perceived values...

Perceptions often come from a minority.

Like I said, stereotypically speaking, a Christian will be pro-life... As will a conservative Republican... An athiest is likely to be pro-choice, as is a liberal Democrat...

Stereotypes are by definition based upon perception... The actual truth is irrelevant in how these connections are formed...

The post I was replying to claimed that the actual truth caused the stereotypes - that is what I was arguing with.

Wow.. Good stats.

really Kinda shows that Protestants and Catholics are actually more middle ground but slightly bending republican.

But Atheist are too way democratic.