Why Does Atheism and Left-Wing Politics Usually Go Together?

[Whateverist]

Only just now opening this thread as the vitriolic title was so off putting. What counts as left wing varies of course, but if left wing equals liberal and liberal equals a willingness to question norms, then I think the answer is straightforward. Those who think their way out of religion are more likely to question traditional social arrangements than are those who tend to revere authority. Of course, deciding that gods are a fanciful idea requires very little commonality of values and desires. So in fact, you will find us spread all over the political map except, as DeistP points out, social conservatism since those positions are so rooted in religious systems.