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Addendum: Whenever someone comes off as having an ego, I do wonder if they truly do have that inflated ego or if they really have a fragile self-confidence and are trying to hide it by overcompensating. Or other. So when engaging with an egotistical person I tend to be more undecided on the...

If I have the opportunity, instead of doing that I describe what I find interesting and appealing to learn about evolution (along with correcting some misconceptions of theirs). Dawkins's "The Selfish Gene" was a worldview-changing book for me, and I describe to people why I enjoyed it so much...

I will add that whenever I enter a church building, I never believe that everyone inside is fully onboard with everything inside the church. Experiences with myself, other Christians-turned-atheists, and current-Christians have made it clear that that is not the case. Instead I have a...

Some things you say I agree with and others I disagree with, but I do not consider it worthwhile to nitpick to a small point. In general though I will just say that I have spent much of the last couple decades debating religion online with people, and have noticed it too often brings out the...

You do not know what my expectations are. I do not know what my expectations are. I have had plenty of experiences already across a variety of friendly vs hostile encounters. But I do not know where on the different spectrums this particular place will be. I am cautiously preparing for the worst...

The "safest way to go" would be for people to never engage in activism of any kind. Do not do anything that has a remote possibility of making others slightly upset. Do you think we should be aiming that low though? I view religion as a significant enough threat that it warrants investing more...

Everyone else being sympathetic to them is not a problem. Everyone else being nasty is disturbing to watch but I have been on the receiving end of it before. Them having a vastly different ideology is not enough of a reason to deter interaction. The only sufficient reason I am aware of to avoid...

Thanks for the advice. I do not know if they will be: Instantly hostile and aggressive without allowing me an inch. Hostile and aggressive but also capable of being calmed through my own behavior (I have had this experience and they allowed me entrance into their church). Hostile but also...

atrib's interpretation of a "good faith effort": Sets the bar pretty low for himself.

An online Christian forum? I have done so for many, many years. I already have a long track record and do not have to guess. That is partly what motivated me to engage in real-life activism and also prepared me for what types of arguments and claims to hear, and how to respond. If you are...

Does that also include what you *want* to happen? Because I have a very long track record of not appearing on Youtube. I have had dozens of these conversations, they were conducted in small settings and people/pastors would relay secrets to me as well. Almost all of them went very well and both...

You forgot the large majority that enjoyed our discussions. You also forgot the pastor that I have become friends with. Why did you not mention them at all?

I have been involved in religious debates for decades online. To a lesser extent also in-person over the same time. Then over the last year have had them with more frequency and duration. I have heard the types of arguments, the playbook. Learned what types of responses are likely to be more or...

Another valid option is to help break their stereotypes. Put a face to their faceless atheist enemies. Have intimate talks with them about our beliefs. Let them hear what some of us believe from us firsthand, rather than having outsiders tell them what we believe and distorting it in the...

Thanks for your thoughts, Jarhyn. They are more carefully considered than many others here. A couple points I will mention: 1. I have a fear of public speaking, and avoid doing so regardless of whether I was speaking to a sympathetic or hostile audience. I will not be making any kind of public...

Glad something positive came out of you today.

Lots of churches do see me as a chilling presence or someone they are spiritually obligated to evangelize to. Online I have discussed and debated religion and philosophy for a couple decades, am familiar with their apologetic arguments. Also familiar with how to respond to them in ways that they...

You demonstrate a fantastic understanding of the situation, steve. Great analysis.

Being unhappy with the responses is not the same as being unhappy with the people themselves. I have had plenty of enjoyable discussions with people. I have become friends with one pastor as well. Social media often brings out worse qualities in people, which is partly whey I began that...

This past summer when I have engaged in a very successful activism project of visiting churches and having good discussions with them just after the church ends or later in-private with a pastor---I nearly always introduce myself at the beginning (to the door greeters, for instance) as an...