In contrast, “conservative” refers to whatever resists change—particularly progressive change—within a particular society or system. But that can include any number of things, from libertarianism to populism to oligarchy. And in religion, it can mean anyone who is not a full-blown progressive.
So it seems to lack a definite meaning. Even so, progressives tend to lump all conservative things together, and that makes sense from their point of view. They rarely see a legitimate reason to disagree with them, so they often believe that anyone who rejects their views is a “fascist”—a selfish, ignorant, or psychologically disordered proponent of oppression, obscurantism, dogmatism, and unjustified privilege.
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