Atheism is consistent with Conservatism

Resolved: Atheism is consistent with Conservatism The definition of a political conservative has changed over time and with place. The context of the present resolution is modern American conservativism. "Modern" means post-1950. The background is given by http://www.answers.com... which states, "Particular conservative writers have founded their conservatism on individualism as often as on collectivism, on atheism as much as on religious belief, and on the idealistic philosophy of Hegel as well as on profound scepticism or vulgar materialism." How can conservatism embrace so many radically different viewpoints? In modern times in America, arch-Conservative Sen. Barry Goldwater was pro-choice and iconic Conservative author William Buckley favored drug legalization. The diversity is explained by Conservatism being a methodology, not a list of conclusions. William Buckley defined, "Conservatism is the doctrine of evolutionary change." Russell Kirk is credited with one of the most thoughtful definitions of Conservatism in the "Ten Principles of Conservatism." http://www.kirkcenter.org... saying in part, "Being neither a religion nor an ideology, the body of opinion termed conservatism possesses no Holy Writ and no Das Kapital to provide dogmata." The first of Kirk's ten principles is relevant to the present discussion: "First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order. That order is made for man, and man is made for it: human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permanent." Kirk was deeply religious, a Catholic, so he probably thought "made for man" meant "made by God for man," but he notably refrained from making any such explicit definition. He was a very thoughtful person, so refraining from the assertion could not have been an accident. Besides, human nature being defined by God does not resolve what human nature. The Founders who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution faced the same problem. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and the other of the founders were Deists. They believed that God created the world and would return one day in judgment, but that God played no role in the affairs of men. They openly admired Christian philosophy, but did not think the Bible had divine authority. Note the Declaration of Independence holds "these truths to be self-evident." That is very much a Deist sentiment. It implies that morality is derived using reason by observing the nature of man. Madison wrote that the Constitution was derived from natural law, i.e. human nature, and not from any specific religion. There are no specific religious references in the Constitution. However, Madison maintained, in essence, that no religion could be in conflict with natural law, so it didn't make any difference in terms of the bottom line of asserting rights. This was politically astute as well because it avoided offending any of America's vigorous religious sects. Madison emphasized the enduring moral order derived from human nature in his guideline for interpreting the Constitution. "This natural law approach toward purpose, history, practice, and precedent was summed up by James Madison discussing constitutional interpretation. It has been noted, '[A]mong the obvious and just guides to [interpreting] the Const[itutio]n,' Madison listed: '1. The evils and defects for which the Constitution was called for & introduced. 2. The comments prevailing at the time it was adopted. 3. The early, deliberate, and continued practice under the Constitution, as preferable to constructions adapted on the spur of occasions, and subject to the vicissitudes of party or personal ascendencies.'" http://vlex.com... Conservatism is belief in the evolution of society according to certain principles. One the key principles is belief in an enduring morality. Atheists and Deists believe that morality is derived by reason from human nature. Therefore atheism is consistent with conservatism. The resolution is affirmed.