I wrote an extensive series on conservatism, the links to which can be found in the summary article below. Conservatism reduces to intellectually unsustainable social Darwinism, and modern conservatives hide that fact by equating classic modern liberalism or libertarianism with conservatism. Real conservatism, as in the traditionalism that prevailed throughout most civilizations for thousands of years is anti-modern and anti-progressive. Thus, the real choice between liberalism and conservatism is between secular humanism and apologies for barbarism (i.e. ludicrous, often religious excuses for human forms of animalistic dominance hierarchies, as in massive economic inequalities between royals and peasants).
My writings on religion generally distinguish between exoteric and esoteric forms of theism. The kind that’s relevant to this article is the exoteric, literalistic, palpably absurd one.
The point about Gay Pride parades is just a limited analogy. Sure, there are differences, as there are in any analogy. Homosexuals were indeed oppressed, whereas religious folks were often socially dominant. But the tide has turned, and homosexuals are prominent in Western culture. My point is just that liberals must tolerate even the exaggerated form of gay culture, just as they much tolerate the preposterous, exoteric forms of religion. On existential grounds, I naturally defend the human rights of minorities such as gays, lesbians, and the rest. There’s no need for religious mercy. On the contrary, religions are more likely to be used to persecute others.
I’ve written a series also on the relation between cults or countercultures and mainstream cultures:
