What atheists can actually offer the right

Beinart has put his finger on the tie that binds us together here on the Right. Whether believers or non-believers, we take faith seriously. That’s what progressive liberals really hate, and that’s why conservative believers and atheists alike can enjoy the withering scorn of our mainstream culture.

You see, Beinart is right in a way. Mainstream liberals do like religion, so long as it’s squishy, hypocritical, and cheerfully prepared to adapt itself to modern ideas and mores. They are charmed by the idea of communities of people coming together on Sunday morning to celebrate peace on earth and goodwill towards men. Unfortunately (as recently noted here on The Federalist), most people can’t be bothered to roll out of bed on a Sunday morning just to sing a few hymns to Goodness, Niceness, and Secular Tolerance. Churches that follow this route just tend to die. But liberals are still a little embarrassed about that, which is why they lie on phone surveys and pretend to go to church.

I want people to know that among conservatives, beliefs matter. We don’t lie about them for social reasons, and we don’t paper over our disagreements by pushing dissenters to the margins. Here on the Right, we accept that pluralism can be uncomfortable, but we work it out like the morally serious grown-ups that we are.

I genuinely admire atheists for openly proclaiming their godlessness. They can help enormously in perpetuating the message that belief is a serious business.