Majority of atheists are liberal

A majority of self-described atheists are politically liberal, while most Christians, including evangelicals and Protestants, are conservative, according to a new Pew Forum survey.

Some 51 percent of atheists and those described as agnostic told Pew that they are liberal, with 32 percent moderate and 13 percent conservative. Survey analysts said that the atheists lean Democratic because they are generally younger and agree with the party’s embrace of sexual issues such as abortion, gay rights and same sex marriage.