The Core Metaphysical Foundations of Christian Conservatism and Areligious Liberalism Versus the Reversible Moral Perspectives of Areligious Conservatism and Christian Liberalism

Abstract

The Core Metaphysics and Reversible Morals Survey (CMRMS) was administered by computer to a random, stratified, nationwide sample of 1,000 adults. The only groups with significant z score means above 0.5 on the CMRMS’s Conservative Metaphysical Foundations scale were the 178 conservative Christians and the 79 very conservative Christians. The only groups with significant z score means above 0.5 on the CMRMS’s Liberal Metaphysical Foundations scale were the 76 liberal Areligious respondents and the 56 very liberal Areligious respondents. The only groups with significant z score means above 0.5 on the CMRMS’s Conservative Moral Perspectives scale were the 42 conservative Areligious respondents and the 11 very conservative Areligious respondents. The only respondents with a significant z score means above 0.5 on the CMRMS’s Liberal Moral Perspectives scale were the 39 very liberal Christians. These findings—along with the fact that the two metaphysical foundations’ z scores are so negatively correlated, so diametrically opposed, unlike the two reversible moral perspectives’ z scores—suggest an underlying reason why Christians tend to be conservative and why areligious individuals tend to be liberal: the underlying and opposing metaphysical foundations of Christian faith and areligious principles.