On the advice of a friend I decided not to ask for anyone more than 8 years younger or 8 years older than me. Therefore my profile says I am looking for a woman between 54 and 70 (8 years either side of my 62). Yet when I get messages I usually get them from people in their 20's or 30's. I'm willing to go outside my age range a little bit but not by much.
If I see a profile that says you are not religious or that you did not answer that question I will move on to my next interest unless I see that you are a Christian Somewhere else in your profile. If I'm Baptist and you are Methodist, Presbyterian or Catholic there may be room for compromise. I don't bypass those differences.
Generally my politics lean conservative but that's something else I can compromise on-at least to an extent.