Why the GOP needs non-believers
Why the GOP needs non-believers
By Carrie Sheffield
On paper, I should be a progressive voter. I am an agnostic. I am a woman in my 20s with an Ivy League graduate degree and liberal arts background.
But I'm a conservative. I vote for Republicans because I believe they have the best strategies for where the country should be headed fiscally, militarily and culturally.
Secular conservatives like me are in a bind. We want to work with religious conservatives because we agree with them on most issues. We respect the ethical contributions from many faith traditions, which inspire millions to seek the public good. But we're troubled by the religious right's dominance over the conservative movement, a trend that repels rational, independent-minded folks who see religious zealotry as anathema to the Founding Fathers' pluralistic vision.
We secular conservatives are too often shoved into the canonical closet and forced to keep quiet about the fact that we don't want our politicians spouting off like preachers. We'd like to keep (and protect) religions in the private sanctuaries where they belong.
After a bruising '08 presidential campaign that saw religious bigotry from a mainstream GOP candidate (i.e. when Mike Huckabee questioned whether Mormons, such as Mitt Romney, believe "Jesus and the devil are brothers") and some elements of the unofficial grassroots movement, there's no question that Republicans need to clean up their act on faith issues.
Tolerating intolerance
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, likes to tout his non-traditional background as an African American and a Catholic — a far cry from the WASPy men who have stood at the party's helm since the Republican Southern strategy of the '60s and '70s.
Earlier this year during a visit to Harvard, Steele told me he would play an active role this year and in 2012 to make sure any philosophical bias — whether anti-Muslim, anti-Mormon, anti-agnostic, etc. — would not be tolerated. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be happening. Cases in point: the forced religious confessions of Sikh-turned-Christian Nikki Haley as she successfully ran for the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial nomination, and the Muslim bashing surrounding the Ground Zero construction flap.
Building a Muslim prayer center so close to Ground Zero is in poor taste and understandably chafes some victims' families, but there's no denying — as some Republicans do — that Muslims have the right to build wherever any other religious group can build.
Disappointing data from a recent Pew survey show Americans' ignorance of President Obama's religious beliefs, with an increasing number of people incorrectly claiming that Obama is a Muslim. Interestingly, the Pew data show we unaffiliated folks are the least likely out of all the faith groups to incorrectly label Obama a Muslim.
While I disagree with many of Obama's policies, it should be obvious that in the United States a candidate should not be rejected for his or her religion (or lack thereof). I believe Obama when he says he's not Muslim, but what's troubling is that the term "Muslim" has been used as a slur by many conservatives.
As the GOP works to rebuild itself, party leaders need to acknowledge that solid family values can be taught in an atheist's home, a Buddhist temple or an Islamic mosque. Republicans must be more willing to accept, and promote within national party ranks, those from alternative religious groups (including seculars) who are proud to claim conservative values.
A changing nation
Someday, the Protestant/evangelical bloc dominating the Republican Party will be a religious minority because we seculars are increasing at a rapid rate, as are Catholics, Mormons, Muslims, etc. And when that day comes, you'll hear me arguing for tolerance of its minority backgrounds as well.
Americans are becoming less religious and less rigid in their beliefs. According to The Washington Post, among millennials ages 18-23 in the National Study of Youth and Religion, fewer than 25% think it's important to marry someone of the same faith. The Pew study cited earlier shows that more people think churches should keep out of politics. If Republicans want to understand the rising generation, they should study these demographics.
Earlier this month, Australians decided to keep an openly atheist prime minister. Julia Gillard has been in office since June, yet somehow the island hasn't imploded into the South Pacific Ocean. On Gillard's watch, Australia's unemployment stands at just 5.1%, border patrol funding has increased and a planned confiscatory tax on the mining industry has been pared down. Not too bad for a heathen seeking to appeal to moderate conservatives.
Back home, Republicans should pay attention and put policy ahead of prejudice.
Carrie Sheffield is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and former editorial writer for The Washington Times.
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