Michael Novak writes at NRO on the connectedness of religious truth and freedom, and why democratic self-government allows the human person that very first freedom, the free response to the God who is Truth in himself, whether you are Jew, Christian, or even atheist (which is why in reality, there are few real atheists). Even atheists seek the ultimate good and source of truth -- they are usually just mistaken about what it is (sex, biotechnology, centrally-planned economies). Of course we know who and what the ultimate source of good is. That is one of the great themes of John Paul II's encyclical, Veritatis Splendor. Only nihilism is authentic atheism.
This is an important article by Novak. Your response to it will indicate where you fall among the various types of "conservatives" (assuming you are of the right-leaning persuasion, or a liberal hawk). If you agree with Novak's general thesis, you are in agreement with President Bush and the "neocon" foreign policy establishment that is centered at the DOD, Commentary Magazine, The National Interest, and the Weekly Standard, among other places, as well as religious thinkers like Novak, Neuhaus, and our good friend George Weigel.