Let's see how good you are at classifying your beliefs and whether the classification accurately describes you.

I'm using classifications that the late John Courtney Murray, Catholic scholar, came up with almost 50 years ago. He applied them to people's attitudes toward church and state, though I think they can apply to more than those two.

The four are: radical, liberal, traditionalist and conservative. With the help of Peter Kreeft, author and scholar, I'll paraphrase how four hypothetical people match up.

With so many hot-button social, religious and political issues, maybe we can learn a thing or two about ourselves and begin to reach across the chasm that separates us from others.

Radical

- Sam is a child of the 1960s who embraced the counter-culture movement and rejected traditional institutions, including government and religion.

He combines a strong belief in preserving the environment and an agnostic attitude about religion. But he is kind and good-hearted and wants everyone to embrace freedom and equality.

Liberal

- Mary believes in public service and supporting political candidates who work for progressive social change. She is suspicious of people on the extremes of political and religious beliefs.

Popular with co-workers, she is also active in community causes. Her motto is: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

Traditionalist

- Bill is a deeply religious Catholic who served in the military for eight years. Duty to God, country and family shapes his beliefs, though he distrusts government when it seems to act contrary to the teachings of his church. He is quick to help anyone in need and volunteers for several charities.

Conservative

- Danielle converted to Christianity at an evangelical church before she married. She has three children and believes that faith should shape how people understand everything in life. She teaches Sunday school at her church and actively supports her kids' scouting programs and several faith-based groups.

Each person is a caricature, reflecting some of what Murray described. What the descriptions are meant to do, first, is help each of us examine ourselves: Are we more like Sam, Mary, Bill or Danielle?

Generally, here's how each of the four tend to view church and state: The conservative affirms both church and state; the traditionalist affirms the church but mistrusts the state; the liberal affirms the state but mistrusts the church; and the radical rejects both.

Using the same-sex marriage issue as an example, the radical rejects any attempt to regulate the behavior of consenting adults. The liberal wants justice and equality for all codified by law. And the traditionalist and conservative recoil at any attempt to overturn what has been the norm of marriage, though the two differ on whether state or church has more at stake in the outcome.

Knowing who we are - and how we look at others - what can we learn?

If we treat people as categories, to be avoided and defeated at all costs, we are certain to remain as suspicious strangers, demonizing one another.

If we use labels to pigeonhole another - "secular humanist," or "right-wing fanatic," or "environmental wacko," or a "moral hypocrite" - then we will have effectively ended any chance of reaching across the gulf that separates us. And the shouting and name-calling will grow even louder.

But if we seek to know someone who is different from us - religiously, politically, socially - we open up an opportunity for understanding.

The challenge each of us faces is to step out of our comfort zone and set aside the labels.

It starts with finding a common interest - music, food, movies, books - and letting those be the opening subjects of our conversations.

It's learning about another's passionate interests, which can be an entry point to finding out why they believe what they do.

Ultimately, it's treating the other as human, as a child of God, not a labeled nuisance or threat.

Granted, it's a small step, even idealistic, but it has the potential of starting a constructive conversation that builds a bridge across the chasm.

And isn't that worth our best effort, whether we're Sam, Mary, Bill or Danielle?