Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker (who once incorrectly stated that “there are no atheists in foxholes“) is making the case that the Republican Party needs less religion:
As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.
Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.
…
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn’t soon cometh.
Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party…
She’s not arguing that religion needs to be ignored. But the GOP needs to reach out and become more accessible to a larger base:
… it isn’t necessary to evict the Creator from the public square, surrender Judeo-Christian values or diminish the value of faith in America. Belief in something greater than oneself has much to recommend it, including most of the world’s architectural treasures, our universities and even our founding documents.
But, like it or not, we are a diverse nation, no longer predominantly white and Christian. The change Barack Obama promised has already occurred, which is why he won.
I don’t see how it would work. While there are many Christians who are Democrats, the Conservative Christians aren’t going anywhere else right now. And many of their values and beliefs are completely abhorrent to people with… well… better judgment. Unless the Republicans can distance themselves from the Religious Right, they’re not going to win a majority of elections anytime in the foreseeable future.
Of course, the Republicans could also stop promoting awful policies… that might help.
Are there any atheist Republicans out there?
What reason(s) do you have for supporting their platform?
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