This will be part of a longer personal series about conservative and being conventional — or not.

Am I conservative? And how conservative is conservative? I might have more liberal views in some areas than you know.  Let’s talk about faith, religion, racism, politics, and other hot-button topics.

I am a believer in God and Jesus. I don’t wear my hair long or wear head coverings or wear dresses as a statement of faith or religion. I listen to and read things outside the Christian genre, and I don’t have a problem with moderate drinking or dancing. I even miss a day or two of church now and then. But I believe in growing in my walk with God, and I believe the Holy Spirit produces change in one’s self.

I believe in loving people and hating the sin, not the sinner. I believe all sin is the same in God’s eyes: lying, gluttony, murder, homosexuality. I believe all of us — even “good” people — sin. And no one has the right to cast stones. And some Christians get up to wield swords that are not theirs to wield.

23% of the world’s population is Muslim. I certainly don’t believe every one is a terrorist. In fact, by crunching numbers based on a Pew study, only .00625% of Muslims are extremists. On the other hand, I believe the reason Muslim countries suffer more terrorism and violence than other countries is primarily linked to the Islamic faith.

I believe racism exists. Most people who say it doesn’t are naïve, ignorant, deniers, manipulators, or liars. Most naïve people have no clue what black life is like across this country. I know enough to know I have no clue, but that horrible things happen.

More points:

• Let’s discuss why what a person says or does is wrong, instead of attacking the person
• I believe that the government should have no business in marriage at all.
• We homeschool, as we don’t believe in the “old-fashioned” or “normal” way of schooling is a good fit for our family.
• And I believe if we don’t want idiots in public office, we should stop denigrating public service *all* the time.
• I am leaning toward favoring the legalization of illegal drugs.
• NO to oil pipelines across the northern great plains.
• I am for guns and for gun control (really? Automatic machine guns?).
• Not a fan of either candidate for the office of President — both are disgusting

I believe too many people in this country no longer speak up. We should have discourse. We should agree to disagree. We should be listening well to views not our own. We should avoid emotional escalation or manipulation.

Let’s use our brains, folks.