I've noticed that most religious people are conservatives, and I see a real similarity between the two modes of thought.
Religious people tend to cling to outmoded views and disproven beliefs no matter what evidence is shown to refute them. For example, many still think that leprosy was a curse from god even tho modern medical science has basically beaten it.
Likewise, amny conservatives tend to cling to outmoded and discredited views too. Like trickle down economics, or reaganomics, or supplyside economics. Despite clear evidence that these views don't work as advertised (I.E. taxcusts for the rich don't raise the economy for most people) they still cling to and defend them vehemently.
I guess religion and conservativism are based on similar mental modes.
Religions do tend to be inherently conservative, it's how they survive unto the next generation.
Furthermore, as I understand it, conservatism tends to have a moral outlook that including things like respecting and obeying authority figures/positions, which is definitely something that religion lends itself to.
Along the same lines, I just interviewed a researcher this morning who has collected data to show that atheists are highly confident in their moral opinions, but uncommited to enforce them in any way. Religious people are eager to go to war to maintain their traditional moral ways, while atheists aren't. That's why so many evangelicals keep screaming that stuff about "it's a christian nation blah blah blah".
No need to be sorry for being a know-it-all, you're an atheist, it's expected of you! ;^)
Their findings are based on an online survey they created in which respondents self-identified as atheists, so yes, you're right, there may be many atheist "types" who simply didn't want to participate or didn't know about it. That's one of the problems he acknowledged during the interview - that it's likely that many people just couldn't be bothered, and that to just say "atheist" or "agnostic" is pretty general.
I tried to link in the preliminary findings but it was messy, so I apologize for asking you to google yourself - I don't mean it to be rude - but if you google "beyond disbelief short Cheyne Britton" you should find it.
Feel free to challenge - I'm sure they're looking for people to do that.
It seems counter-intuitive to me that Christians are associated with conservatives instead of liberals.
I mean, we liberals are inclusive, right? Jesus reached outside his Jewish constituents to embrace gentiles. Jesus overturned the money-changer's tables. Jesus was understanding and tolerant of the poor, the meek and the disenfranchised.
How the heck did the Conservatives get identified with Christians? . . .