Social Conservative Principles

Social conservatism and economic conservatism often times go hand in hand. Generally, it can be assumed that social and economic conservatives’ principles intertwine. However, “social conservatives are more likely than the others to see these principles through a religious lens”. In fact, their core principles are as follows: “anti-statism justified by the equation of statism with blasphemy, anti-utopianism undergirded by the doctrine of original sin, individualism (especially among evangelical Protestants) tied to the importance of individual salvation rather than collective social reform, natural rights grounded directly in God, and civil society valued not only because it blocks over-powerful government but because it molds the virtue of free citizens”.1 Nevertheless, defining the current American political system is not as clear-cut because of the highly polarized, bi partisan direction American politics have taken. Yet, regardless of which party voters have subscribed to the American government was founded on a philosophy that closely aligns to Lockean liberalism.
“Democracy, limited government, republicanism, self-determination, the rule of law, equal opportunity, and free expression” , have become key principles for the American ideology. Thus, according to Lewis, “American liberals and conservatives are two opposing currents of a common stream of Lockean liberalism”. As a result, social conservatism is born as a right-wing leaning interpretation of certain principles found in Lockean liberalism. Needless to say has heavily influenced modern American