The article discusses the personal journey of an individual who transitioned from being a religious conservative and Christian nationalist to embracing atheism at age 45. This shift not only altered their worldview but also led to a significant change in political alignment, as they began to identify with progressive values. The individual reflects on the implications of conservatism, particularly its reliance on tribalism and the acceptance of misinformation, contrasting it with progressives' commitment to science and effective governance. The narrative highlights how personal beliefs can influence political perspectives.
I was raised to be a religious conservative and was a Christian nationalist since the mid-80s. I was an evangelical until age 45 when I had to admit to myself that I just didn't believe in religion anymore and became an atheist. My understanding of the world radically changed, and now I was only interested in what could be proven to be true.
One unintended consequence is that I also became very progressive in my politics. I saw how much conservatism is based on tribalism, even to the point of denying science and factual data, and how much progressives were trying to be effective, data-driven managers of government.
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