Political Activism as a New Form of Faith

There’s a growing tendency among liberals to view politics almost as a kind of religion. While some may have moved away from classic beliefs, their zeal hasn’t diminished. They seem to create their own figures of veneration, heretics, rituals, and visions of a better future. This passionate commitment propels progressives to seize control of institutions and forge the path forward.

In response, conservatives often resort to mockery.

The people you are deriding are the ones shaping the world your grandchildren will inhabit. Find a way to counteract them.

We’ve chuckled at the image of a childless activist with bright blue hair advocating for socialism while masked during a pandemic. We tend to scoff at the frustrations of the unemployed, their emotional volatility, and their exaggerated calls for significant reforms like dismantling police forces or abolishing capitalism.

And frankly, that ridicule is sometimes justified. However, layoffs? Those certainly aren’t a laughing matter.

Odd individuals keep surfacing; they organize, create art, join committees, fill bureaucratic roles, operate non-profits, and influence education. They establish the frameworks that dictate what children learn and what employees are expected to say.

It’s a travesty that conservatives laugh in resignation.

Meanwhile, conservatives devote themselves to businesses, nurturing families, and building churches. These endeavors are substantial and worthy of respect, far more than spending their lives shouting slogans outside courthouses or enforcing ideologies through HR departments.

Yet, the admirable work can inadvertently justify a kind of surrender in the political and cultural arenas.

Many conservatives tell themselves that activism is merely a manifestation of liberal inadequacies. They believe their hesitation to mobilize speaks to their own superiority. The narrative often goes that liberals have made politics their religion, while conservatives seek solace elsewhere.

While there’s truth in that, it still doesn’t excuse a striking lack of engagement.

Historian Alexis de Tocqueville noted habits among Americans that previously kept their private lives from spiraling into selfish isolation. In his work “American Democracy,” he highlighted Americans’ innate drive to form connections and associations.

They invested their time and resources into schools, churches, libraries, and other local organizations. These institutions facilitated a rich community life that addressed local issues and diminished reliance on far-off governments.

Having families or businesses doesn’t mean a withdrawal from public life; rather, individuals often entered public life through those very realms. However, that practice is waning.

Not too long ago, a typical conservative businessperson might have been a member of a local lodge or community organization. These groups were significant for providing mutual support, mentoring youth, and connecting families across generations.

They also served as political and cultural hubs.

Men would rally to support a friend in local elections, and couples organized fundraisers for the arts and community services. Veterans gathered to share drinks and discuss pressing issues. Managers pooled resources for influence, establishing a foundation of trust among neighbors long before a crisis hit.

Many pivotal political and cultural movements began with like-minded individuals bonding over drinks.

The left’s approach might seem harsher—filled with coercion and fanaticism. It’s understandable for conservatives to reject that model, but dismissing the need for organization altogether is misguided.

If leftist activists are perceived as misguided, why do they keep emerging victorious? In what way do they dominate the realms of education, entertainment, philanthropy, and government?

The answer is straightforward: they show up.

Conservative mockery has morphed into a coping strategy, allowing the right to transform defeat into a misguided sign of superiority. Sure, progressives may hold sway over school boards, but at least conservatives have successful gardening businesses and can throw great barbecues.

Yet those grilling might, at least on the surface, appear happier and more stable. Still, the school board defines what their children learn.

Related: Conservatives cannot thrive in a collapsing society if all they do is host barbecues.

Birth rates are often cited as another comforting excuse.

Conservatives often comment on their higher family sizes compared to liberals, believing that demographic shifts will eventually yield political victories. But children don’t inherit political beliefs like traits passed down genetically.

Two critical factors shatter this comforting illusion.

First, Democrats consistently attract new voters at a pace that surpasses conservative family growth—many immigrants, for instance, possess higher birth rates than conservative natives.

Second, the left retains control over societal institutions that define the ideas influencing children, through schools, universities, media, and corporate settings, all instilling progressive values daily.

Regular church attendance and the occasional family meal fall short against 16 hours of ideological influence unless parents actively establish a robust support system for their children.

Even parents who dedicate themselves to conservatism are not immune; I know of a conservative couple with five children, all of whom grew up to hold progressive views. They provided love and stability, yet culture shaped their children’s perspectives far more than their upbringing did.

Simply having kids isn’t a political strategy; it requires cultivating their growth within a resilient cultural framework.

The same principle goes for businesses. Sure, running a successful dealership or restaurant is commendable, but setting up a fourth business while ignoring local governance is a missed opportunity for meaningful influence.

Regardless of whether entrepreneurs engage in politics, political issues will inevitably intersect with their business operations.

Progressives grasp this concept, intertwining cultural production, political organization, and economic power in a coordinated effort.

Conservatives need to adopt a similar seriousness without embracing leftist fanaticism.

This involves forming associations, funding arts, backing education, mentoring youth, seeking local office, attending conferences, establishing media outreach, and building networks to navigate political cycles.

Not every individual has to dive into full-time activism. Yet, anyone invested in preserving their values must contribute to these preservation efforts. This work is laborious, often unacknowledged, and can disrupt leisure activities. It could cost as much as a new boat, a vacation, or business expansion.

Progressives understand that power influences the landscape where personal lives happen. Meanwhile, conservatives cling to the hope that individual successes can somehow neutralize public defeats. Unfortunately, that’s a fallacy.

The individuals you mock are shaping the future you will one day witness. It’s time to create something that counteracts their influence.