...I can relate to your plight MA, more than ever. I now live in an area where many churches have their own electronic skyboards and are million dollar affairs speaking of the devoutness of their flocks. I suspect 90% of my neighbors are moderate-strongly religious (probably 10-15% are Mormon) and at the moment there are far more nativity scenes and mother Marys than Santa Claus' on display in the neighborhood.

But I have compassion for these folks. Even when they come to the door and try and convert me/ recruit me into their church - I think I've been added to the maps as a 'confirmed blasphemer' and so less and less stop by.

They believe they are doing good. It's an article of faith with them. They have no choice in the matter and it has nothing to do with logic and reason. Most are the byproduct of decades of indoctrination and never arrived at these things on their own, but they fill a vacant slot comfortably and so will remain until some event or experience acts as a catalyst for a re-evaluation.

Folks who believe they are 'good' and a re actively 'trying to do good' have their own nobility regardless of the legitimacy of their belief system. They deserve credit for trying to assist others and help, even if they may need some help themselves.

The secret is not biasing them or their belief system. Engaging in condemnation or hostility only attracts them tighter to you. Once one loses the bias the conflicts will dissipate and dissolve away. Those who condemn you, condemn themselves and vice-versa. It's all about frequency relationships in cyclic thought patterns.

Islamic fundamentalism and the acts of terror or cruelty it sponsors, serve a purpose. I believe that such extremism acts as an educational tool for those who hold religious beliefs and of the danger and irrationality of those who succumb to them in totality. The suicide bomber believes he is "good" too and doing his gods wishes. That alone should give anyone pause when they pursue faith-based activities. And if the epiphany is not quick in coming - it will arrive at some future time when they are ready.

What's 'conservative' to a 'religious righter' is not conservative as based upon some greater societal standards, but is conservative in terms of conformity to their religious beliefs. Dictators/tyrants in Saudi Arabia are not conservatives, but are, by their own religious standards, liberals. The conservatives in Pakistan, Iran and elsewhere loathe the 'liberal' United States as much as they resent that the Saudis have Mecca in their borders.

Conservative, to me, represents respecting the Constitution and its obvious and less obvious sentiments as to proper governance. Religious righters are 'faux conservatives' and are only conservative in terms of their own religious beliefs. The Constitution and Christianity are by no means brothers in spirit or have matching agendas.

Hopefully, that clarifies the conservative bit. The AC folks robert conjurs visions of are only folks who authoritarian nature is derived from obedience to their religious beliefs. I've stated in the past that I'm a liberal - and I am - because the Constitution is liberal by my definition. Efforts to make it more liberal or more conservative will not garner my support because I believe it is a very rare product of balance - and whether by accident or sheer genius makes no difference.