Religious Conservatives ground their political philosophy in faith traditions—primarily Christianity in the American context—believing that godly wisdom should inform both personal behavior and public policy. They see politics not as a secular arena separate from religion but as one domain among many where believers must apply their values and defend their freedom to live faithfully.
This strain has deep roots in American history, from Puritan settlements to the Great Awakenings to the Moral Majority. The modern Religious Right emerged in the 1970s as a coalition of evangelicals, traditional Catholics, and Orthodox Jews alarmed by secularization, abortion, and what they saw as government hostility to religious institutions and values.
For Religious Conservatives, certain moral truths are non-negotiable because they come from God, not human preference. Life begins at conception, making abortion the taking of innocent human life. Marriage is between one man and one woman by divine design. Sexual morality has objective standards rooted in natural law and scripture. These aren't merely personal beliefs but truths that should shape law and culture.
Religious liberty is paramount—not just freedom of worship but freedom to live according to one's faith in education, business, healthcare, and public life. Religious Conservatives see increasing conflicts: Christian bakers compelled to serve same-sex weddings, religious schools threatened for traditional teachings, healthcare workers pressured to participate in abortions or gender transitions.
At roughly 3% of the population as a distinct political type (though religious conservatives broadly defined are more numerous), this strain remains influential through institutions like the Family Research Council, Alliance Defending Freedom, and networks of churches and religious schools. They're a core Republican constituency whose priorities have shaped judicial nominations, abortion policy, and religious liberty jurisprudence.