Conservative atheists?
Discussion
Are there currently are Conservative politician who have described themselves as atheists?
The only cabinet member I can find who calls themselves an atheist is Nick Clegg.
Lots of those on the left are happy to say there's no magic man in the sky controlling everything but that view seems to be rare on the right.
The only cabinet member I can find who calls themselves an atheist is Nick Clegg.
Lots of those on the left are happy to say there's no magic man in the sky controlling everything but that view seems to be rare on the right.
santona1937 said:
It is hard not to believe in God when you are a tutu wearing, carpet munching,subsidised gin drinking, expenses knocking right wing never had to work a day in their life politician who went to Eton.
And yet it's amazing how many of the general population seem to manage without religion. It's almost as if the political handbooks are written in the States, where this rubbish seems to matter, and people are afraid of actually stating a position.
10 Pence Short said:
I'm wondering what the OP's point is?
Tony Blair was a fully paid up god bothered, yet that didn't prevent him making some (well, lots) of questionable decisions.
Unless they're on the loony side of old testament fire and brimstone, I don't see what difference it would make?
No he wasn't/isn't. Effecting a belief was necessary to get the approval of a certain woman (tempted to say 'God knows why' here). The conversion that followed was a Damascean confection and yet another cynical strategy to further his continuing ambitions. Is now attempting to get a camel through the eye of a needle. Has (poetically) sent his son to inherit the Earth and be our salvation.Tony Blair was a fully paid up god bothered, yet that didn't prevent him making some (well, lots) of questionable decisions.
Unless they're on the loony side of old testament fire and brimstone, I don't see what difference it would make?
Halleluja!
Fittster said:
Lots of those on the left are happy to say there's no magic man in the sky controlling everything but that view seems to be rare on the right.
As far as I can tell most politicians are happy to say anything that gets them elected regardless of the facts. Why would this topic be any different?I can see more downside than upside for most politicians. I wouldn't vote for Nick Clegg because he's an atheist and I wouldn't vote against someone because they were Christian (or whatever) provided they weren't a fundamentalist nut job. However religious groups care about this stuff and make a lot of well organised noise.
The preponderance of a religious world view is not so much an issue of left vs right but more of authoritarians vs libertarians. As expected people in a position of power tend more to the authoritarian, and lo and behold, their right to rule is blessed by the invisible man above.
As Seneca said "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful".
As Seneca said "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful".
ts instead of God telling them so.
AJS- said:
I can see more downside than upside for most politicians. I wouldn't vote for Nick Clegg because he's an atheist and I wouldn't vote against someone because they were Christian (or whatever) provided they weren't a fundamentalist nut job.
I suppose it's where the line on being a fundamentalist is drawn. I think if you believe a zombie flew off into space, that is sort of entering into fundie territory. 
Halb said:
I suppose it's where the line on being a fundamentalist is drawn. I think if you believe a zombie flew off into space, that is sort of entering into fundie territory.
To my mind it's more about what you do with belief than what you believe per se.if you just believe something whacky it isn't a problem. If you go on to decide that adulterers should be stoned to death and non believers burned out of their homes then it's a different matter.
All of the mainstream religions have weird beliefs that can be mocked. Part of the 'club' effect is purporting to believe in such rubbish. I feel certain that a majority of those who profess to accept that the Earth is a bit over a fortnight old in reality know full well that they are off by a bit more than a few weeks, but as they are in a religious club, they must conform.
It is no different from, for instance, an Arsenal supporter suggesting that the team this year in the best in the premiership. They know it isn't, there's enough evidence, overwhelming in fact, to prove otherwise, but to suggest that their goalkeeper was the only one to put in 90 minutes of play would upset the group he is in as they all profess to believe the same thing, at least publicly.
A bit different for F1 of course, as us McLaren supporters can only believe we will get better this season. Yeah, we will. Right.
I don't mind Arsenal supporters going against accepted wisdom and making out that their team is the only one. That is, as long as it doesn't affect my life and that I don't have to pay for it. Oh, and that they don't have a say in law-making, I am not required to defer to Arsenal and that I am allowed to point out, in public, that they play an insipid version of the sport and should be relegated. They, in turn, should not restrict my life-style in any way, nor should they abuse their position of authority to impose restrictions on anyone else, nor bully them into conforming.
And if Arsenal act in a sexist, racialist or abusive manner then they should be fined.
It is no different from, for instance, an Arsenal supporter suggesting that the team this year in the best in the premiership. They know it isn't, there's enough evidence, overwhelming in fact, to prove otherwise, but to suggest that their goalkeeper was the only one to put in 90 minutes of play would upset the group he is in as they all profess to believe the same thing, at least publicly.
A bit different for F1 of course, as us McLaren supporters can only believe we will get better this season. Yeah, we will. Right.
I don't mind Arsenal supporters going against accepted wisdom and making out that their team is the only one. That is, as long as it doesn't affect my life and that I don't have to pay for it. Oh, and that they don't have a say in law-making, I am not required to defer to Arsenal and that I am allowed to point out, in public, that they play an insipid version of the sport and should be relegated. They, in turn, should not restrict my life-style in any way, nor should they abuse their position of authority to impose restrictions on anyone else, nor bully them into conforming.
And if Arsenal act in a sexist, racialist or abusive manner then they should be fined.
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