It's like any social construct . It can be hijacked by a lesser more [ see Mao. Stalin ]

conservatism is not exclusively theistic

I think that you must be American. Conservative has nothing to do with religion in Canada, and Liberal either.

In 2013, the Liberal mayor in Saskatoon Saskatchewan ( yes that's a city and province ) prayer in public. Later that year, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission rules there is enough evidence to proceed in the case of a complaint lodged against the Mayor of Saskatoon for participation in a public prayer. - He discriminated by not praying to ALL gods.

Yeah I think in part it depends on definitions. I read a poll that said something like 11% of atheists are conservatives or republicans. I don't know if that included all non-theists. The political moral foundations theory and for liberals on a scale of 1-10 it placed values fairness and care around 9 and loyalty, authority, and sanctity at like a 1 while for conservatives all the values ranged like 4-7.

My own thoughts about CONservatism vs Liberalism (which may have little to do with your thoughts) is that the difference between them is freedom and human rights. Left-wants LGBT rights, Right-wants the freedom to discriminate in housing, employment and doing business based on their oppressive religion. Left-supports birth control and abortion rights, Right-anti choice based on arbitrary religious reasons which are not even found in their buybull. Left-satisfied with people having their own beliefs, Right-wants everyone to recognize Christianity in gov, laws, in education, and in every aspect of life. You get the idea, which is that while the left talks about freedom of individuals, the right talks about the freedom to control individuals, to prevent individual expression and lifestyle. These Conservative snowflakes have brains that "think" in terms of black and white solutions for a complicated world of very different people and ideas.

Kind of interesting question. I am politically liberal, but I can remember when American politics weren't yet so polarized. Back then it was possible to listen to conservative as well as liberal ideas and observations and hammer out viable solutions with everyone having input. I believe that one day we may return there, but not any time soon.

You think too much.